CRL1 - A snapshot in April 2026

Overview of CRL1 stations CR4 - CR5 & CR8 - CR11 as at April 2026.
Top (L - R): CR4 - Pasir Ris East, CR5/CP1 - Pasir Ris,
Middle (L - R): CR8 - Hougang, CR9 - Serangoon North
Bottom (L - R): CR10 – Tavistock, CR11 – Ang Mo Kio

Last week, we took a look at the progress of the Cross Island Line (CRL)'s Punggol Extension. This week, we catch up on progress along CRL's phase 1 section, covering 6 contracts under the phase. Join us as we take a look at progress made from Pasir Ris East to Ang Mo Kio in this snapshot update of CRL1.

CR113 - Serangoon North update Q1 2024

21 March 2024 - A view of the Exit 1 site at the heart of Serangoon North neighbourhood.

 Probably the biggest changes at Serangoon North's work site for the Cross Island Line (CRL) phase 1 over the first quarter has been the road realignment and the completion of diaphragm wall works for Exit 2 of the station. The road realignment took place at the traffic junction between Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3 and Serangoon North Avenues 1 & 3, pushing the roads further towards the southern edge of the work site.

CR113 - Serangoon North update Q3 2023

 

21 September 2023 - A view of the station site at the town centre of Serangoon North. Exit 1
will be located there.

The major change that took place over the past quarter was the commencement of diaphragm wall excavation at the Exit 1 site. Located right smack in the heart of the town centre, this will be the site of the main station entrance. Formerly some pile load testing was conducted here before the betonite silos moved in. Subsequently, a hydrofraise machine was also brought in to begin set up. Excavation for the diaphragm wall panels has since begun in Q3 2023.

Further along towards the eastern end of the station is Exit 4, which is located adjacent to Bowen Secondary School. The work site here has made progress with noise barriers being installed and a road diversion implemented. Across the road from the school, work is being carried out with the installation of sheet piles - this may potentially be used as a retaining wall to divert the roadway for the excavation of the station box and mined subway. Over at other sites, preparation has also been carried out ahead of the commencement of diaphragm walling works.

CR113 - Construction of an underpass beneath Yio Chu Kang Road

 

Source: YouTube

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) released a new video on their YouTube channel today detailing the construction process for the construction of an underpass at Serangoon North station. The underpass will connect Exit 4 to the station box, crossing underneath Yio Chu Kang Road. Located at a graded junction, where Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3 - Hougang Avenue 2 undercross Yio Chu Kang Road which is elevated on top, the works will also need to avoid existing utility lines that cross the intended location of the underpass. Micro tunnel boring machines (mTBMs), smaller versions of their larger cousins, will be used to construct a pipe box which will then be hollowed out to allow for the construction of the underpass' permanent structure.

CR113 - Serangoon North update Q2 2023

10 June 2023 - A view of the construction sites at Serangoon North.

 Over at contract CR113, work has been picking up speed with the preparation of several sites completed and moving onto site set up with equipment being moved in. This contract is for the construction of Serangoon North station and does not involve any tunneling works, which will be carried out by neighbouring contracts CR112 to the east and CR115 to the west. The station itself occupies a fairly long site, with the eventual station stretching for about 700m, it is undoubtedly one of the longest stations and will involve a complex construction.

CR113 - Serangoon North 2022 year-end update

 

17 December 2022 - Progress of the contract site office at the junction of Yio Chu Kang Road,
Hougang Avenue 2 & Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3.

17 December 2022 - A close up of ongoing work.

Serangoon North station falls under a contract that was one of the last few to be awarded for the Cross Island Line (CRL). Due to the complexity of the station site, the contract only involves the design & construction of the station building only and does not include the construction of any tunnels to be used by the main line. Works are still at a preparatory stage with only the Exit 1 site showing any major activity.

CR113 - Serangoon North station roadshow

12 November 2022 - A view of the roadshow held at Serangoon North Central Plaza for residents.

12 November 2022 - An exhibit showing the layout of the station.

SERANGOON NORTH - Last Saturday, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and contractor for contract CR113 - Hock Lian Seng - held a roadshow for residents. The roadshow sought to provide information to residents of the scope and benefits of the project and anticipated works across the different phases of work.

CR113 - Site office & Site preparation

 

06 November 2022 - Contract CR113 site office.

06 November 2022 - Work site at the heart of Serangoon North.

Contract CR113 is for the construction of Serangoon North station. This contract does not include the construction of any tunnels, which will be done under neighbouring contracts CR112 to the east & CR115 to the west. Tunnel boring machines (TBMs) from both contracts however, will dock at the Serangoon North station. The TBMs will thereafter be brought back to the originating launch shafts and taken out.

CR113 - The beginnings

26 September 2022 - A notice put up near the location of the site office.

Works at contract CR113 for the construction of Serangoon North station are commencing. The site for the contract's site office is now being prepared, situated at the corner of Yio Chu Kang Road & Hougang Avenue 2. Elsewhere, soil investigation is underway to determine the soil composition at specific locations whilst hoarding around the future ventilation shaft has gone up.

CRL1 - Detailed station location maps

During the ministerial visit and announcement at Bright Hill station for Cross Island Line stage 1 (CRL1) this morning, there were no exhibits showing the detailed station location maps for each of the 12 stations along the announced section. Additionally, the Land Transport Authority does not appear to have released such maps either. Instead, we have noted various Members of Parliament have been posting these on their social media platforms. Do have a look at some of the more detailed station location plans we've found and we will continually update on any new maps as we come across them.

Edit @ 1634pm - Defu, Serangoon North & Tavistock station location maps added.

Edit @ 0953am on 26 Jan 19 - Aviation Park, Hougang, Ang Mo Kio, Teck Ghee & Bright Hill station location maps added.

Aviation Park station location map.
Source: LTA

CRL1 announced

The Land Transport Authority announced the station locations for Cross Island Line stage 1 (CRL1) this morning at a site visit by Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan to Bright Hill station. This will be the location of stage 1's western terminus.

Do stay tuned as the official press release becomes available later this afternoon.

Speculated station locations

After collating all the sightings of soil investigation works, we can finally compile a list of probable station locations for the Cross Island Line eastern (CRLe) section. Knowing that the line stretches from Changi to Bright Hill, here's our list of the speculated stations.

Speculated alignment of CRLe

Credit: y2koh

Soil Investigation: Serangoon North

The final location of noted soil investigation activities is at Serangoon North. Intense works have been conducted in 2018 along Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3 stretching to Hougang Avenue 2, where the line is likely to swing north under Hougang Avenue 8.

Soil investigation borehole spread showing locations at Serangoon North/Hougang West in relation to Tavistock as of
07 January 2018.