CRL - A snapshot in July 2026

A compilation of the various sites across Phases 1 and 2 in July 2026.

With the announcement of the Cross Island Line (CRL)'s final phase on 31 July 2026, we now know that the line will stretch for 67km, making this line the longest in the country - beating out the East-West Line (EWL)'s record of 54km by a fair bit. This means that the CRL is a really big project, spanning end-to-end across the entire country. While the EWL also crosses the island from east to west, it mostly sticks to the southern section of the island. In comparison, the CRL swings further north and south than the EWL, making its route much more varied and spread out. This translates into it being much more difficult to easily visit and keep track of all contract sites.

For this update, we tried to cover as much ground as we could to give you an idea of where the line stands in progress. As phase 3 was only announced right at the end of the month, we won't be yet including that section in this update. Nonetheless, all the previous phases of the line that were officially announced are covered in this update in some way, form or manner. There's a lot to unpack, so jump right on in after the jump.

CRL1, CPE & CRL2 - Tunneling update for June

January 2026 - Factory Acceptance Test for contract CR203 tunnel boring machines in China.
Source: LinkedIn

June was quite a significant month for the Cross Island Line (CRL)'s tunneling works. Significant progress has been made along Phase 1 and along the Punggol Extension. We take a look at the some of the contracts where tunneling works made progress in the month of June.

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.

CRL - A snapshot in February 2026

Overview of CRL1 stations CR2 - CR5, CR8 - CR10 & CPE station CP4 as at February 2026.
Top (L - R): Changi East Depot, CR2 - Aviation Park, CR3 - Loyang
Middle (L - R): CR4 - Pasir Ris East, CR5/CP1 - Pasir Ris, CR8 - Hougang
Bottom (L - R): CR9 - Serangoon North, CR10 - Tavistock, CP4 - Punggol

It's been a while since we've had a Snapshot update for the Cross Island Line (CRL). Here's one from February 2026, covering several of the sites across Phase 1 and Punggol station along the Punggol Extension. How have works progressed, especially at the line's eastern end? We find out all that and more in this update after the jump.

CRL - A snapshot in October 2025

Overview of CRL1 stations CR4 - CR12 as at October 2025.
Top (L - R): CR4 – Pasir Ris East, CR5/CP1 – Pasir Ris, CR6 – Tampines North
Middle (L - R): CR7 – Defu, CR8 – Hougang, CR9 – Serangoon North
Bottom (L - R): CR10 – Tavistock, CR11 – Ang Mo Kio, CR12 – Teck Ghee

Overview of CPE stations CP2 - CP4 & CRL2 stations CR16 - CR19 as at October 2025.
Top (L - R): CP2 – Elias, CP3 – Riviera, CP4 – Punggol
Middle (L - R): CR16 – Maju, CR207 – Twin bored tunnels, CR17 – Clementi
Bottom (L - R): CR18 – West Coast, CR210 – Twin bored tunnels, CR19 – Jurong Lake District

It's been a while since we've done such an extensive coverage of the Cross Island Line (CRL) across its three current phases that have been announced thus far, hence we thought we'd let October be our month of diversity. Updates for this month stretch from Pasir Ris East all the way to Punggol & Jurong Lake District. If you've been curious on how things were progressing, this post is for you. Do be ready, this update's kind of MEGA.

CRL - A snapshot in August 2025

Overview of CRL1 stations CR3 - CR10 as at August 2025.
Top (L - R): CR3 - Loyang, CR4 - Pasir Ris East
Middle (L - R): CR5/CP1 - Pasir Ris, CR8 - Hougang
Bottom (L - R): CR9 - Serangoon North, CR10 – Tavistock

Overview of CRL1 station CR11 & CRL2 stations CR17 - CR19 as at August 2025.
Top (L - R): CR11 – Ang Mo Kio, CR207 - Launch shaft
Middle (L - R): CR17 - Clementi, CR18 - West Coast
Bottom (L - R): CR210 - Launch shaft, CR19 - Jurong Lake District

Roughly about three-quarters into the year, how has progress been along the Cross Island Line? We take a closer look at some of the key sites along the line in both phases 1 and 2 in this August look-back.

CRL1 & CPE - Upcoming traffic diversions (Aug 2025)

Beyond the upcoming road diversion mentioned in our post on the contract CR115 roadshow, several other Cross Island Line (CRL) contracts will be implementing similar diversions at their respective project sites. These changes to the road networks are scheduled to take place between mid & late August. The details after the jump.

CR115 - Tavistock roadshow 2025

 

2 August 2025 - A view of the roadshow exhibition taking place.

In early August, contractor Sato Kogyo held a roadshow for contract CR115 to update residents and stakeholders in the area on construction progress for the project. The roadshow was held at a pavilion in Tavistock Park, with a few exhibition panels on display covering various areas such as construction updates on the Earth Retaining & Stablising System (ERSS), tunneling works and road diversions. Various representatives from the contractor and the public relations team were on hand to interact with visitors and answer any questions raised.

CRL - A snapshot in July 2025

Overview of CRL1 works under contracts CR106 - CR117 as at July 2025.
Top (L - R): CR106 - Loyang, CR4 - Pasir Ris East, CR5/CP1 - Pasir Ris, CR6 - Tampines North
Middle (L - R): CR110 – Large diameter tunnel, CR7 - Defu, CR8 - Hougang, CR9 - Serangoon North
Bottom (L - R): CR10 – Tavistock, CR11 – Ang Mo Kio, CR12 - Teck Ghee, CR13 - Bright Hill

There's a fair bit to update in this snapshot of the Cross Island Line (CRL) for July 2025. This update will mainly focus on progress along phase 1 of the line, the section with the most progress thus far due to the section's earlier announcement, contract award and commencement in general. Nonetheless, tunneling is also underway across all announced phases thus far, so we will touch a little on the progress made on that front thus far. All this & more after the jump.

CRL - A snapshot in May 2025

An overview of CRL1 contracts CR101 - CR111 as of May 2025.
Top (L - R) : CR101 - Changi East Depot, CR102 - Tunnels, CR103 - Aviation Park station
Middle (L - R) : CR106 - Loyang station, CR107 - Pasir Ris East station, CR108 - Pasir Ris station
Bottom (L - R) : CR109 - Tampines North station, CR110 - Large bored tunnel, CR111 - Defu station

An overview of CRL1 contracts CR112 - CR117, CPE contracts P102 & P103 and CRL2 contract CR202 as of May 2025.
Top (L - R) : CR112 - Hougang station, CR113 - Serangoon North station, CR115 - Tavistock station
Middle (L - R) : CR116 - Ang Mo Kio station, N109A - Teck Ghee station, CR117 - Bright Hill station
Bottom (L - R) : P102 - Elias station, P103 - Cripple siding, CR202 - Large bored tunnel

An overview of CRL2 contracts CR205 - CR211 as of May 2025.
Top (L - R) : CR205 - King Albert Park station, CR206 - Maju station
Middle (L - R) : CR207 - Tunnels, CR208 - Clementi station, CR209 - West Coast station
Bottom (L - R) : CR210 - Tunnels, CR211 - Jurong Lake District station

It has been a while since we've done a snapshot feature of the Cross Island Line (CRL), with our last being done in February for the Punggol Extension. Part of this stems for the works being "less noticeable", since the majority of this takes place underground and relatively out of sight. Another part is that it also appears that updates on the CRL aren't as popular compared to updates on other lines (granted, the above ground line updates are A LOT more interesting as you actually see things change with most monthly updates). Nonetheless, we thought it's time to see where the CRL is in progress with this rather comprehensive mid-year update.

CR108, CR115 & CR205 - Traffic diversions & temporary road closures

A compilation of diagrams detailing upcoming road diversions, temporary road closures &
changes to the road networks over the weekend of 16 & 17 November near 3 CRL work sites.

The weekend of 16 & 17 November will be a busy one for the Cross Island Line (CRL) with various traffic diversions, temporary road closures & changes to road schemes taking place across three different projects over 2 phases of the line. The works in particular will affect residents in Pasir Ris at the site of contract CR108, in Ang Mo Kio near site CR115 at Tavistock station and at King Albert Park at the site of CR205.

CR211 - Telegram channel launch, CR115 - TBM launch & CR112 - TBMs named

 

A render of the Jurong Lake District station being built under contract CR211.
Source: LTA

20 September 2024 - The launching ceremony for tunneling under contract CR115.
Source: LinkedIn

Tunnel boring machines for contract CR112.
Source: Forms.sg

We have a quick update on some developments along the Cross Island Line (CRL) to share: The launch of contract CR211's Telegram channel & TBM #1 for contract CR115 and confirmed names of the tunnel boring machines (TBMs) for contract CR112. More information after the jump.

CRL - A snapshot in August 2024

 

An overview of 2 CRL1 contracts as of August 2024.
Top: Changi East depot
Bottom: Contract CR110 launch shaft at Paya Lebar Air Base

Overview of CRL1 stations CR3 - CR11 as of August 2024.
Top (L - R): CR3 - Loygang, CR4 - Pasir Ris East, CR5/CP1 - Pasir Ris
Middle (L - R): CR6 - Tampines North, CR7 - Defu, CR8 - Hougang
Bottom (L - R): CR9 - Serangoon North, CR10 – Tavistock, CR11 – Ang Mo Kio

Overview of CRL1 stations CR12 – CR13, CPE stations CP2 – CP4 & CRL2 stations CR15 –
CR18 as of August 2024.
Top (L - R): CR12 – Teck Ghee, CR13 – Bright Hill, CP2 – Elias
Middle (L - R): CP3 – Riviera, CP4 – Punggol, CR15 – King Albert Park
Bottom (L - R): CR16 – Maju, CR17 – Clementi, CR18 – West Coast

With the award of contract CR207 for tunnels between Maju and Clementi stations in August, all civil contracts across the Cross Island Line (CRL)'s phases 1, 2 and Punggol extension have been awarded. Work on phase 1 and the Punggol extension were well underway while works along phase 2 were at different stages owing to the contract award progress.

CRL - A snapshot in July 2024

Overview of CRL1 contracts CR102 - CR115 as of July 2024.
Top (L - R):  CR102 - Tunnels at Changi East, CR4 - Pasir Ris East, CR5/CP1 - Pasir Ris
Middle (L - R): CR6 - Tampines North, CR110 – Large diameter tunnel, CR7 - Defu
Bottom (L - R): CR8 - Hougang, CR9 - Serangoon North, CR10 – Tavistock 

Overview of CRL1 contracts CR116 & N109A, CPE contracts P102 - P103 & CRL2 contracts
CR205 - CR211 as at July 2024.
Top (L - R): CR11 - Ang Mo Kio, CR12 - Teck Ghee, CP2 - Elias
Middle (L - R): P103 Cripple siding, CR15 - King Albert Park, CR16 - Maju
Bottom (L - R): CR17 - Clementi, CR18 - West Coast, CR19 - Jurong Lake District

July was a momentous month for the Cross Island Line (CRL). All civil contracts for the construction of stations across phases 1, 2 and the Punggol extension were awarded. Along phase 1, several contracts were in the midst of Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) assembly and subsequent launch as well. In this update, we take a brief look at the progress made across the line's first few phases.

Tunnel Boring Machines of CRL1

Tunnel Boring Machines of Cross Island Line Phase 1.
Top (L - R) : Contract CR102, Contract CR106
Middle (L - R) : Contract CR105, Contract CR115, Contract CR110
Bottom (L - R) : Contract CR109, Contract CR116

Tunnel Boring Machines, also known as TBMs, have been described as mechanical moles or earthworms that dig through the ground, leaving behind hollow concrete tubes through which trains eventually run. These huge machines often work their way along the future MRT lines, most members of the public unaware of their existence right beneath them. 

TBMs used on previous MRT projects were huge at approximately 6.3m in diameter. The ones used on the Cross Island Line (CRL) are even bigger, owing to the extra space required to run an additional rail supplying the trains with power along the top of the eventual tunnel. These will measure at around 7.22m for single tube tunnels that carry one track and 12.66m for large diameter tube tunnels that carry several tracks within.

CRL - A snapshot in May 2024

Overview of CRL1 stations CR4 - CR7 as at May 2024.
Top (L - R): CR4 - Pasir Ris East, CR5/CP1 - Pasir Ris
Bottom (L - R): CR6 - Tampines North, CR7 - Defu

Overview of CRL1 stations CR8 - CR11 as at May 2024.
Top (L - R): CR8 - Hougang, CR9 - Serangoon North
Bottom (L - R): CR10 – Tavistock, CR11 – Ang Mo Kio

Overview of CRL1 stations CR12, CR13, CR15 & CR17 as at May 2024.
Top (L - R): CR12 - Teck Ghee, CR13 - Bright Hill
Bottom (L - R): CR15 - King Albert Park, CR17 - Clementi

Another week, and another month goes by. We're now clearly heading towards the middle of the year with June underway. Here's a look back at the progress made at the various Cross Island Line station sites in May 2024. There's a bit more to see now that some of the Tunnel Boring Machines are in the ground and beginning their boring journeys through the east to construction the line.

CRL - A snapshot in April 2024

 

Overview of CRL1 stations CR4 - CR13 as of April 2024.
Top (L - R): CR4 - Pasir Ris East, CR5 - Pasir Ris, CR6 - Tampines North
Middle (L - R): CR7 - Defu, CR8 - Hougang, CR9 - Serangoon North
Bottom (L-R): CR10 - Tavistock, CR11 - Ang Mo Kio, CR13 - Bright Hill

We're pretty much done with April of 2024 - what a quick first third of the year it has been! Things are quickly becoming serious over along the Cross Island Line (CRL)'s first phase of 12 stations stretching from Aviation Park to Bright Hill with tunnel boring machines (TBMs) being delivered to site and lowered into launch shafts, station box excavation starting and bored piling continuing. We'll do a brief overview of the CRL1 stations as of the end of April 2024. More after the jump!

CRL - A snapshot in March 2024

Overview of CRL1 stations CR4 - CR13 as at March 2024.
Top (L - R): CR4 - Pasir Ris East, CR5/CP1 - Pasir Ris, CR7 - Defu
Middle (L - R): CR8 - Hougang, CR9 - Serangoon North, CR10 - Tavistock
Bottom (L - R): CR11 – Ang Mo Kio, CR12 - Teck Ghee, CR13 - Bright Hill

Overview of CPE & CRL2 stations CP2 - CP4 & CR14 - CR19 as at March 2024.
Top (L - R): CP2 - Elias, CP3 - Riviera, CP4 - Punggol
Middle (L - R): CR14 - Turf City, CR15 - King Albert Park, CR16 - Maju
Bottom (L - R): CR17 - Clementi, CR18 - West Coast, CR19 - Jurong Lake District

It's been a whirlwind first quarter of the year. We take the opportunity to check in on the progress of the various construction sites along the Cross Island Line (CRL)'s various phases in the month of March and provide a glimpse at the progress being made. Do check out the various projects after the jump.

CR115 - Tavistock update Q1 2024

 

12 February 2024 - A view of the Tavistock station site in mid-Q1.

21 March 2024 - A view of the Tavistock station site in end-Q1.

Contract CR115 for the construction of Tavistock station and tunnels connecting to both Ang Mo Kio and Serangoon North station has seen great progress accomplished over the past quarter. Diaphragm wall works have been completed at the Exit 4 site and the launch shaft is well on its way to completion ahead of tunneling works commencing.

CRL - A snapshot in February 2024

 

Overview of CRL1 stations CR3 - CR13 as at mid-to-late February 2024.
Top (L - R): CR3 - Loyang, CR5/CP1 - Pasir Ris, CR6 - Tampines North
Middle (L - R): CR7 - Defu, CR8 - Hougang, CR9 - Serangoon North
Bottom (L - R): CR10 – Tavistock, CR11 – Ang Mo Kio, CR13 - Bright Hill

Overview of CPE & CRL2 stations CP02 - CP04 & CR15 - CR18 as of mid-to-late February 2024.
Top (L - R): CP02 - Elias & CP03 - Riviera
Middle (L - R): CP05 - Punggol, CR15 - King Albert Park, CR16 - Maju
Bottom (L - R): CR17 - Clementi & CR18 - West Coast

The first few months of the year have quickly past and we're slowly getting back into the monthly routines. Here's a snapshot update of the Cross Island Line (CRL)'s various stages of construction for the month of February with work started on phase 1 and the Punggol Extension. The latest phase announced - phase 2 - has also begun early works which we also explore in this update.