Cross Island Line Construction: CRL - A snapshot in August 2026

Overview of CRL stations and contracts as at August 2026.
Top (L - R): NE14 - Hougang interchange, NS16 - Ang Mo Kio interchange
Middle (L - R): CP3 - Riviera, CP4 - Punggol
Bottom (L - R): Contract CR210 - Twin bored tunnels, CR19 - Jurong Lake District

Just a quick update for August, as time really does not seem to be on our side this year. Nonetheless, we've managed to spread our coverage over the various phases of the line - a little bit here and a little bit there. In this snapshot update, we cover some of the key observations across the line from existing interchange station modification works to tunnel progress. More after the jump!

Phase 1
In this update, we take a look at the changes made to two existing stations that will allow transfers to the Cross Island Line (CRL)'s phase 1 at Hougang and Ang Mo Kio. Both stations have since commenced modification works to the existing stations and are at more advanced stages of addition & alteration (A&A) works compared to the other interchanges at Pasir Ris and Bright Hill. We do understand that some preparatory works have since commenced at Pasir Ris ahead of the platform extension works while Bright Hill was built with future connectivity to the CRL in mind, hence modification works will be less disruptive there.

CR8 - Hougang (Contract CR112)
In a nutshell: New areas along both the platform and the concourse level have been hoarded up ahead of the next phase of modification works at the station commencing. Phase 1 involved the reconstruction of the existing lift shaft to allow a second lift to be installed immediately behind the existing lift's shaft. This involved the modification of the existing lift to allow entry and exit from the same side instead of alternating entry/exit points at the different levels. The new lift car for the existing lift shaft had since been fitted in, ahead of the projected reopening in October. Details of the hoarding installation plan also showed modifications to the initial proposed concourse expansion. It appears that each end of the station will see the addition of 2 extra escalators, with space provisioned for a third escalator added at each end. The addition of a second escalator at the station's southern end, near Exit A/Bus interchange, that was originally catered for during the North East Line (NEL)'s initial construction will not be added during this upgrade. In addition, although we were not able to capture it in pictures, the gantry cranes at the launch shaft were disassembled in August.

30 August 2026

31 August 2026

CR11 - Ang Mo Kio (Contract CR116)
In a nutshell: Phase 1 of the modification works at the existing Ang Mo Kio station to convert former retail unit space to toilet facilities and other plant rooms appears to have nearly been completed. With the commencement of toilet operations here, the existing toilets will be decommissioned and the current pathway closed off for the reconstruction of Exit D to allow paid transfers from the North-South Line (NSL) to the CRL, in addition to retaining passenger access between the paid area of the concourse and the pathway towards Cheng San Community Club. Other improvement works have been carried out within the station as well, with the air wells at platform level undergoing upgrading to allow the installation of high volume low speed (HVLS) fans to aid with ventilation.

23 August 2026

Punggol Extension
Works along the next section announced - the Punggol extension branch (CPE) - were taking place concurrently between the diaphragm wall construction and excavation stages for underground stations. These works are typically carried out sequentially, but along this section have been done concurrently to make the best use of time and space at the respective sites. Tunneling works under contract P103 are pushing towards Punggol station, with the tunnel boring machine (TBM) having successfully crossed under the first major junction having left the Riviera station box.

CP3 – Riviera (Contract P103)
In a nutshell: Excavation work had started at the eastern end of the station while concurrent diaphragm wall construction works continued. Diaphragm wall works were ongoing at the western end of the station, along the southern edge and also in the vicinity of the exits near the LRT station. Tunneling work had passed under the junction of Punggol Central and Edgedale Plains, with the marker board clearly seen in the worksite within the road median.

16 August 2026

CP4 – Punggol (Contract P105)
In a nutshell: Similar to other interchange stations along CRL1, Punggol was undergoing a fair bit of remodeling to accommodate new connections to the incoming CRL. Parts of the station roof slab on the eastern side of the existing NEL station had been cast while similar works were in progress on the western side of the station. The width of Punggol Central that cuts through the station at the NEL & LRT concourse level was temporarily reduced to accommodate the ongoing works.

31 August 2026

Phase 2
To the best of our knowledge, contract CR210 is the second contract after CR202 under phase 2 to receive its TBMs for assembly. These have since been lowered into the launch shaft ahead of the commencement of tunneling works under the contract. Elsewhere along the section, diaphragm wall construction work is still underway.

Bored tunnels between West Coast & Jurong Lake District stations (Contract CR210)
In a nutshell: In mid-to-late August, we observed TBM shield components on site at the launch shaft near the under construction Jurong Town Hall station on the Jurong Region Line. Unfortunately, the shots we managed to get were a little far away and did not manage to capture the TBM shields in their entirety. A week later and the shields were not seen at street level, having likely been lowered into the launch shaft as TBM assembly works proceed. Back up gantry cars, covered in tarpaulin were seen on site displaying the logo of China Railway Engineering Equipment Group (CREG), indicating that the TBMs were manufactured by the company. Further searches online yielded that Commonwealth Secondary School was invited to participate in the TBM naming contest for the contract. Students eventually selected the names Teresa Hsu Chih and Daisy Vaithiligam as the inspiration for the eventual TBM names - Teresa and Daisy.

30 August 2026

23 August 2026

CR19 – Jurong Lake District (Contract CR211)
In a nutshell: Diaphragm wall construction works were underway at the station site, with rebar cage lowering observed.