Another stage 3 TBM breaksthrough

This afternoon, the TBM for Contract 925 for the construction of Tampines East station and tunnels brokethrough at Tampines Central station. This marks the end of the first drive before the machine will be stripped in-situ and reassembled at the launch shaft for the second drive on the opposite bound.

Edit: Videos uploaded.





With thanks to Itsara Phikunthong.

Fort Canning flashback

A few years back, before the area along the Singapore River and River Valley Road got torn up, quite a different landscape existed than that which can be found at the Fort Canning station site today. Take a look at the differences in landscape since.

11 October 2011

11 October 2011

Contract 917A & 918A

Macdow has closed Fourth Avenue earlier this month to facilitate the movement of construction machinery between the previously-segregated sites. We thank one of our readers, Marcus Tan for writing in to us to inform us of the closure. This is an example of how informative contributions of site & tunneling updates can be, and are warmly welcomed. We encourage more to contact us via the feedback portal on the right sidebar.

Currently, the lane has been planned to remain closed until the completion of works in January 2016, however the project team has assured me that they will try to expedite works and push for an earlier reinstatement, possibly by the end of next year.

Signage showing the closure of Fourth Avenue

Riding Downtown Line 2

Ever wondered what riding Downtown Line 2 would be like? Here's a preview that might give you an idea.



With thanks to Hasan Liton.

TBM arrives at Kaki Bukit

Early this morning at about 3.00am, TBM S-686 successfully brokethrough into Kaki Bukit station. The machine has bored about 900m from the launch shaft next to Ubi station along the Expo bound track. Here's a video showing the machine gnawing away the soft eye of the diaphragm wall at Kaki Bukit.

S686 Breakhroughs

With thanks to Chalermdech Wattanakijyingyong

DTL3 Tunnel Progress

The second machine under Contract 927 has successfully completed boring the BP bound tunnel between BDN and BDR, docking into the station on the morning of May 15.

Tunnelling works are progressing well in this sector. We can look forward to numerous breakthroughs under C923A, C925, C926 and C929A by 2Q 2014.

C.M.C C927 Tunnel team

Day 14, Gali Batu Depot

Having achieved temporary occupancy permit, a pair of new rolling stock would progressively be delivered to the Gali Batu Depot every 1-2 months, sufficient to fulfill the required fleet needed to effectively operate Stage 2 of the line in 2 years. Alstom has begun to demobilize and dismantle the Gantry Cranes at the depot as track laying within the site completes.

A subsequent upgrade within the depot would see a new stabling yard constructed at the south side where the current staging area is, adding a capacity of 39 trains while a new bus depot is to be built on its roof. The new project is targeted to be completed by 2019.

12th and 13th DTL train delivered to the depot earlier this month

Future stabling yard to be located at this site

Dismantling of Gantry Crane

Day 13, Rochor

One of the most complex projects ever to be undertaken in Singapore, Rochor has seen repeated stages of traffic diversions throughout its construction phase due to the relocation of the Rochor Canal.

A section of the North South Expressway will be stacked on the station's roof, and its tunnel will be built together with the Downtown Line. The station will have 2 entrances. Entrance B will feature 2 elevators on the southbound (SB) side of the road. On the opposite side of the road, the ventilation tower will be situated together with the main entrance A next to Sim Lim Square. An additional structure housing cooling towers for the station will also be located on this side of the road.

Overview of station box

Station roof

Platform of Rochor station

Day 12, Little India

Little India (LTI) is one of the 4 stations that have commenced structural works at the surface. In fact, it is presently leading progress for the entire DTL2 with both entrances achieving Basic Structural Completion (BSC). Entrance 1 is located outside the Land Transport Authority (LTA) Headquarters, providing a new entry point to the station, while entrance 2 is being integrated with entrance B, providing swift access to the concourses of both the North East Line (NEL) and Downtown Line without having to detour around the paid area.

Contract 921 of the Downtown Line also involves the construction of the permanent Rochor canal and A&A works to provide barrier free access at the existing entrance A and C of the NEL. To date, the canal roof has been successfully completed while piling and excavation has begun on the lift shafts.

Concourse of LTI

Platform of LTI

Entrance 1 (Exit F)

Entrance 2 (Exit G)

Day 11, Newton

Newton is the second station to have the surface structures up. The vent shaft is structurally completed while the entrance frame would commence following the final road reinstatement of the slip road in June/July. Contract 920 consists of the construction of Newton station, Halifax substation and its adjacent 4 tunnels. 

The tunnels leading towards Stevens immediately go into a stacked formation due to space constraints along the road corridor. As part of safety precautions, mid tunnel escape shafts are built along stacked tunnels to facilitate as a vertical cross passages. The entire DTL2 will only feature one ES, which is being built under this contract. The surface of the shaft had begun reinforcing bars for the entrance since March. The exit is now concreted and structurally completed.

Power is essential in the future operations of the Downtown Line. There will be 3 intake points - Gali Batu Depot, Expo and the Halifax substation. The massive building has been completed in 2013 and is visible beside KK Hospital.

Halifax Substation in August 2013

Escape Shaft in front of Ferrell Residences

Mid 2011 - Newton Circus was diverted to construct the diaphragm wall beneath the road 

17 April 2014 - Preparing to repeat the same traffic diversion 3 years later

Day 10, Stevens

Stevens station. The entrance pit has just recently been formed and concreted. From now, the station will progressively take shape at the surface following the construction of stairs and subsequent installation of escalators. Below is a photo timeline of the construction progress taken over the last 3 years.

Piling and Trench Cutting works mid 2011

Excavation works started to commence early 2012 following the drive of the remaining king posts

Late 2012. Gantry cranes were brought in to facilitate top-down movements due to site constraints.

Overview of Stevens Station - as it is now in May 2014

Day 9, S603 Breakthroughs

At last, the entire DTL2 is structurally linked underground. S603 has came a long way from King Albert Park, tunnelling the 1.3km long Expo Bound tunnel before successfully docking at the Sixth Avenue station on Thursday morning (May 8). A short timelapse of the machine from delivery point is featured in this update. Photos of the breakthrough will be updated in the subsequent tunnelling progress posts. The next breakthrough of S605 is estimated to take place at BTN within the next 10 days.

DTL2 Tunnel Chart for early May

Update preview - C917 TBM Launching Ceremony

Day 8, Tan Kah Kee

Tan Kah Kee is the third and final station that was previously under Alpine. The completion contract has been renumbered to C918A and was awarded to SK E&C. Back at C915, SK had a rich experience in dealing with granite, both in station construction and in bored tunnelling, a great influence in the awarding of this contract to them as they would not only be able to operate and handle the Slurry TBMs and STPs with familiarity, but also immediately transfer their tunnelling manpower between both sites as 915 had then just completed their TBM works. Time was crucial in order to minimize further disruption to the project schedule.

TKK is working on its roof slab at the moment. The CCT has already completed its roof slab and backfilling is on going. The backfilled layer will be leveled with Hwa Chong's field and the land will subsequently be handed over back to the school.

Tunnelling Progress

S605 has advanced through the 600th ring and is currently beneath the POB at botanic gardens. Breakthrough should come within the next 2 weeks.

Cut and Cover Tunnels (North Section)

445m Cripple Siding Tunnel

Deep excavation and backfilling comparison:

Day 7, Sixth Avenue

Sixth Avenue is the second station to have its construction schedule affected by ex con Alpine declaring insolvency. Currently the station has its concourse slab cast. Backfilling could commence towards the end of the year after the roof slab is done.

Tunnelling Progress

The Expo bound TBM, S603 is on the outskirts of the station's boundary, 1-2 days from breakthrough. The BP bound TBM, S602 is over 700 rings and has just passed Maple Avenue. Breakthrough has been brought forward towards mid to end June.

Eng Neo storage site shared by C917, C918 and C919

Overview of Sixth Avenue

C917A site office and storage shed

Day 6, King Albert Park

KAP is the first of 3 stations there were previously contracted under Alpine. The slowdown is this sector was due to the appointment of a completion contractor after the Austrian company filed bankruptcy. The station's surface is densely decked due to space constraints, hence minimal vantage point beneath.

This station will feature 2 entrances. An entrance and the ventilation shaft will be constructed along Dunearn Road, while the main exit will be positioned in front of The Sterling. The concourse slab is in the process of being cast. The subway linkage beneath the road is also in the process of mining. The site for the Dunearn entrance had only begun clearing within the past 6 months, prior to which utility diversions were going on. This will be the last structure along DTL2 to be excavated.

Overview of  KAP station

Acoustic noise shed in front of Maplewoods

Day 5, Beauty World

Today we look at the Beauty World site under Contract 916. Likewise, the station is being backfilled while an isolated shaft opening is left for the TSA works by Alstom. A clamshell excavator was brought in 2-3 months ago to excavate the entrance at Jalan Jurong Kechil following the completion of the subway construction. This is the second last structure for DTL2 that has to be excavated.

Overview of TSA and main station

Crossover Tunnel

Day 4, Hume

There haven't been any signs of any structures appearing at the surface of Hume station. At this point, works have progressed that the roof slab has been cast. Contract 915 also involves the construction of all 4 tunnels leading out of the future station - currently built as a box structure to be topped off at a later date. Final breakthrough at Hillview and Beauty World were achieved by TBM2 and 1&3 in April and June respectively last year. Trackworks are on going between Hume and Beauty World from the Gali Batu staging area.

Day 3, Hillview

Also part of the scope of works under C913 is the D&B of Hillview station. A recent road diversion has swung the NB carriageway away from the south, while the SB road now runs on the previous NB alignment. This allows for the construction of the station entrance and pillars for the future Hillview Flyover. Backfilling is in the process and works on the new flyover should expedite from the third quarter.

Platform of Hillview station in February

Contrast between the different road surfaces allows a comparison of the original traffic arrangement

Diversion of the NB road

Preparations to cast the flyover pillar

Day 2, Cashew

Moving down the line, we look at Cashew Station under C913. Currently, it is one out of 4 stations that have begun structural works on the surface entrances and ventilation shafts.

South Vent Shafts has achieved BSC

The 2 structures are symmetrical

Day 1, Bukit Panjang

For the month of May, we will be scheduling an update for each station along Stage 2 everyday. Starting with Contract 912 for the construction of Bukit Panjang station and the associated C&C tunnels north and south of the station.

C912 Zone 2 (station)

Overview of Bukit Panjang station

C&C tunnels to Gali Batu Depot