The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has awarded the civil contract for the design and construction of CR14 Turf City station (working name) and tunnels under the Cross Island Line Phase 2 (CRL2) to Shanghai Tunnel Engineering Co (Singapore) – Obayashi Corporation Joint Venture (JV). The contract is valued at around S$530 million.
The CR14 station is an underground station located along Turf Club Road, near the former Grandstand. LTA said the construction works are expected to be challenging due to the varying soil conditions in the area, in particular the harder ground conditions of the Bukit Timah granite formation which requires the use of specialised techniques to carry out excavation works safely. Before commencing excavation and construction works for the station structure, earth retaining and stabilising structures will be installed to ensure safety and ground stability.
LTA had earlier conducted an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the works near Eng Neo Forest. As part of this assessment, nature groups were engaged to identify flora and fauna in the vicinity of the jobsite, and to develop mitigation measures to minimise environmental impact. These measures include erecting barriers along the roadside to prevent fauna from wandering onto the road and to guide them safely towards other forest patches.
In addition, road calming measures such as speed bumps and speed limit signages will be implemented on the jobsite access roads during construction, to remind drivers to slow down and keep a look out for animals. LTA said it will continue to engage nature groups and other stakeholders to keep them informed about the construction progress and mitigation measures, which have been put in place as part of the Environmental Monitoring and Management Plan.
Construction works on the CR14 Turf City station are expected to start in the third quarter of 2024, and passenger service for CRL Phase 2 is targeted to commence in 2032.
According to LTA, the JV and its two member companies have established track records in local rail projects. The JV had earlier been awarded the contract for the design and construction of the bored tunnel between Fairways Drive and Sin Ming Walk under the CRL2 in December 2022.
Shanghai Tunnel Engineering Co (Singapore) Pte Ltd is currently in the final stages of completing Katong Park and Bayshore stations on the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL), having also completed the construction of TEL Shenton Way station. Meanwhile, Obayashi Corporation previously constructed the North East Line Dhoby Ghaut station.
The CRL is Singapore’s eighth MRT line. It will serve existing and future developments in the eastern, north-eastern and western corridors, linking major hubs such as Jurong Lake District, Punggol Digital District and Changi region. The CRL will have almost half of its stations as interchanges with other rail lines, making it easier and more convenient for commuters to travel across the rail network.
The fully underground CRL will be built in three phases. Announced in 2019, CRL Phase 1 is 29 km long and comprises 12 stations. Construction works have commenced and are expected to complete by 2030. CRL Phase 2, announced in September 2022, is approximately 15 km and consists of six underground stations. Engineering studies for CRL Phase 3 are ongoing and more details will be announced after these studies are completed.
All images: LTA
