CRL2 Groundbreaking ceremony

7 July 2025 - A group photo with contractors of CRL2.

Today, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) held a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the official commencement of construction on phase 2 of the Cross Island Line (CRL). Connecting 6 stations over 15km of track, the section of line will see the expansion of Singapore's rail network reach areas in the west currently not well covered by the system. Notably, the future housing estate on the site of the former turf club will be served by the MRT and residents at West Coast will have a station to call their own. Also standing to benefit, students at the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) and Singapore Institute of Management (SIM) will be served by the upcoming Maju station. Stations along this section of the line are Turf City, King Albert Park, Maju, Clementi, West Coast and Jurong Lake District. King Albert Park and Clementi stations will connect to the existing Downtown and East-West lines respectively, allowing convenient transfers for commuters.

Early works under the 9 contracts that make up phase 2 have already commenced, thus today's ceremony is more symbolic in nature. Some of the works that have begun include the demolition of existing structures at the project sites, utility diversions and construction of diaphragm walls for sections where excavation works will be required. The 9 contracts consist of 3 contracts for tunneling between stations and 6 contracts for the construction of stations, some which also include the construction of connecting tunnels.

A total of 11 tunnel boring machines (TBMs) will be required to complete tunneling works along this section of the line, one of which is already busy at work under contract CR202. TBM Jane, launched in May 2025, is a large diameter TBM that will construct the tunnels connecting Turf City station with Bright Hill station on phase 1 of the line. This tunnel will undercross the Central Catchment Nature Reserve (CCNR) without disturbing the surface, a decision that was not undertaken lightly when the line was first planned. Due to concerns from nature groups and other communities, studies were initiated to weigh the benefits of pursuing the direct route over an alternative route avoiding the CCNR entirely. Ultimately, following the studies conducted, the direct route through the CCNR was selected, albeit with some adjustments to the work areas to mitigate impact to the flora and fauna found within the reserve.

In addition to the symbolic start of construction along the second phase, the Minister for Transport - Mr. Jeffrey Siow - also officiated the opening of the phase's Project Information Centre (PIC). Located in Clementi and next to the project site, the PIC serves to allow the community to learn more about the project and its development. On display is a model of the upcoming Clementi station and exhibits of the contracts under this phase of the line. Similar PICs exist in Hougang for Phase 1 of the line and in Punggol for the Punggol extension section.

7 July 2025 - Opening plaque

The PIC will be open to the public from 8 July 2025. Operating hours will be 9.00am to 5.00pm, Monday to Friday. Walk-ins are allowed, but booking an appointment through a link to be released is encouraged.

We look forward to the continued progress along CRL2 with the phase officially underway. May the project be completed safely & in a timely manner.

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.

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 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 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.

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.

Contract CR205 - King Albert Park kicks off construction

 

15 February 2024 - A view of the existing Downtown Line station with the Cross Island Line
site seen at the back.

Contract CR205 for the construction of the Cross Island Line (CRL)'s King Albert Park station was one of the first civil contracts for stations on phase 2 of the line to be awarded. With the successful award of the contract, works were to begin on site by the end of Q1 2024. Although the station site appears to be quiet, a fair bit of work has begun taking place.

CR205 - New renders

 

A render of a street-level structure featuring a wooden finish.
Source: LinkedIn

Recently the team came across 2 new renders of the Cross Island Line's (CRL) King Albert Park station. The renders show the wooden-like finishings of the street level facilities and allows users a closer look in at the station platform area. These new render images come in addition to 3 other previously released images.

CPE & CRL2 - year-end update 2023

 

The 9 station sites of CPE & CRL2 as of end-2023.

2023 was an eventful year for both the Cross Island Line (CRL)'s Punggol Extension (CPE) & Phase 2 (CRL2) sections with the ground breaking ceremony and contracts being awarded respectively. With the ground breaking ceremony taking place this year, work has began at all 3 station sites under the offshoot branch which connects the main CRL line at Pasir Ris with Punggol - a precursor to the long spoken about Northshore Line which would have eventually connected Punggol and Woodlands. Over at CRL2, contract awarded began, with 3 of the 9  civil contracts awarded through the year. All in all, 2023 has been exciting for the phase 2 stations.

CRL1, CPE & CRL2 - A snapshot in October 2023

 

Top (L - R): CR105 - Large diameter tunnel, CR3 - Loyang, CR4 - Pasir Ris East
Middle (L - R): CR5/CP1 - Pasir Ris, CR6 - Tampines North, CR7 - Defu
Bottom (L - R): CR8 - Hougang, CR9 - Serangoon North, CR10 – Tavistock

Top (L - R): CR11 - Ang Mo Kio, CR12 - Teck Ghee, CR13 - Bright Hill
Middle (L - R): CP2 - Elias, CP3 - Riviera, CR15 - King Albert Park
Bottom (L - R): CR16 - Maju, CR17 - Clementi, CR18 - West Coast

Here's a look at the progress made at the various Cross Island Line (CRL) sites across Phases 1, 2 & the Punggol Extension in October 2023.

CRL2 - Contract awards for CR205 & CR208

 

A view of the CRL platform at King Albert Park station.
Source: LTA

The second phase of the Cross Island Line (CRL) achieved a milestone today with the award of 2 contracts - CR205 & CR208. The contracts are for the design & construction of King Albert Park and Clementi interchange stations respectively.

CRL2 - Release of contract CR203 for Turf City

 

24 July 2023 - Tender for contract CR203
Source: LTA

Today, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) floated the tender for contract CR203. This contract involves the construction of Turf City station and associated tunnels connecting to King Albert Park station in neighbouring contract CR205. Contract CR203 is the sixth contract floated for tender under the Cross Island Line's (CRL) phase 2 which continues the line from Bright Hill to Jurong Lake District. CRL2 is due to commence operations in 2032.

To date, of the contracts floated for tenders, 1 has been awarded, 3 have been closed for evaluation of tender bids & 2 remain open. We've done up a table for ease of reference.

Contract Number	Status	Bidders
CR202	Awarded	Obayashi – STEC JV (Successful)
CR203 (Turf City)	Open	Pending – closing 22 Dec 2023
CR205 (King Albert Park)	Closed for evaluation	1. China Communications Construction Co. Ltd 2. Gammon Construction & Engineering Pte Ltd 3. Lum Chang Building Contractors Pte Ltd 4. Ssangyong Engineering & Construction Co. Ltd
CR206 (Maju)	Open	Pending – closing 31 July 2023
CR208 (Clementi)	Closed for evaluation	1. CES_SDC Pte Ltd 2. China Communications Construction Co. Ltd 3. Daelim Engineering & Construction Co Ltd. 4. Sato Kogyo (S) Pte Ltd
CR209 (West Coast)	Closed for evaluation	1. CES_SDC Pte Ltd 2. China Jingye Engineering Corporation Ltd 3. China Railway First Group Co. Ltd 4. Gamuda Berhad 5. Shanghai Tunnel Engineering Co Pte Ltd (STEC)

With the latest tender floated, the contracts for 5 of the 6 stations along CRL2 have been successfully tendered. The remaining contract for Jurong Lake District station has yet to be floated, along with 2 other contracts - likely to be contracts for tunneling works. The remaining contracts are numbered CR207, CR210 & CR211.

This post is also available on Instagram & Facebook.

CR2016 - Advanced works for CRL2

 

21 May 2023 - The beginning of hoarding along Clementi Road.

21 May 2023 - Hoarding along Clementi Road.

Recently if you've travelled along Clementi Road, especially around the Singapore Institute of Management (SIM) / Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) stretch, you may have noticed green hoarding along the boundary of the road. Ever wondered what the hoarding is for? Could it be that works for the Cross Island Line (CRL) phase 2 are already beginning? Find out more after the jump.

King Albert Park pre-construction 2022

 

31 December 2022 - A view eastwards along Dunearn Road

Not too long ago, King Albert Park was the site of a massive construction attempt underneath Bukit Timah Road. The roadway was diverted atop the canal and construction machinery was busy at work constructing the underground station for the Downtown Line (DTL). Those days now date back almost 8 years ago. But soon, it will be time to do it all again when works commence for the Cross Island Line (CRL). Works this round will be concentrated along Blackmore Drive, however. The team takes a look at the area before all the heavy works commence.

CR205 & CR208 - 2nd pre-qualifications

 

3 January 2023 - Companies that have successfully pre-qualified after the

second round for contract CR205.

3 January 2023 - Companies that have successfully pre-qualified after
the second round for contract CR208.

Last year, 3 contracts were tendered for the Cross Island Line (CRL) phase 2 for the construction of King Albert Park interchange (contract CR205), Clementi interchange (contract CR208) & West Coast station (contract CR209). Concurrently, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) also launched a second round of pre-qualification for the contracts, for which has since been closed for the former but is still open till 16 January 2023 for the latter.

As the pre-qualification exercise for both contracts CR205 & CR208 have concluded, the list of eligible companies for bidding for the projects has been published on government portal Gebiz. There are 2 companies that can proceed to submit tender bids for contract CR205 and 6 that can submit bids for contract CR208. It will be interesting to see which companies make a final bid for the respective contracts.

We will keep a keen watch on the contract bidding process and provide updates once available.

This post is also available on Instagram.

CR205 - For King Albert Park

 

Contract details as released on Gebiz portal.

Contract delivery date as seen on Gebiz portal

Today, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) released the first contract for Cross Island Line phase 2 (CRL2) for bid. Contract CR205 is for the design & construction of King Albert Park station which will allow transfers to the existing Downtown Line (DTL) station. According to the Gebiz tender portal, all works are due to be completed by 30 June 2032. Bids for the contract are due by 24 April 2023, however this date is usually extended several times from past experience. It may take a few months after for the contract to be awarded. As such, construction should commence some time within 2024.

This is a blog-only post.

CRL2 - Some renders & EIS reports

 

A render of an exit of Turf City station.
Source: LTA

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has recently published the Environmental Impact Study (EIS) reports on their website. Within the reports were a few renders of Turf City and King Albert Park stations. Other details were also unveiled within the reports, such as the stations at Maju & Turf City potentially having cripple sidings integrated into the stations and a future knock out panel being provisioned for a "paid link" at Maju station. A heritage study report by the Urban Redevelopment Authority did not yield any other results.

CRL2 - The next steps

Previously we had posted about the stages leading up to a rapid transit line's announcement to give everyone an idea of the steps leading up to the line's announcement & subsequent construction. With the official unveiling of the station locations for phase 2 of the Cross Island Line (CRL) on Tuesday, we are now well within the announcement & tendering phase. Albeit some preparatory works are remaining and will be ongoing till the construction phase commences later.

CRL2 Announced

 

20 September 2022 - Photo taking at the ministerial visit to the East Coast depot.

CHANGI SOUTH, SINGAPORE - On 20th September, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) unveiled the second phase of the hotly anticipated Cross Island Line (CRL). CRL2 will span 15km, connecting to the first phase at Bright Hill and ending at the Jurong Lake District. Along the way, the line crosses with the Downtown Line (DTL) & East-West Line (EWL), offering commuters an alternative route between the east and west.