Contract J102 was one of the earliest awarded contracts for the Jurong Region Line (JRL), being awarded to Shanghai Tunnel Engineering Co (STEC) in September 2019. Since the contract award, some work has commenced in the vicinity of Choa Chu Kang station for site preparation. This involves the demolition of the former Choa Chu Kang bus interchange built in the 1990's, demolition of block 303 consisting of a multi-storey carpark with commercial units on the ground floor and construction of replacement parking lots.
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| 02 July 2020 - A view of block 303 & remnants of the former Choa Chu Kang bus interchange as seen from the Choa Chu Kang MRT station. |
Demolition works for the former Choa Chu Kang bus interchange were underway, although the recent Covid situation has put a temporary stop to the demolition works.
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| 02 July 2020 - Aerial view of block 303 & former Choa Chu Kang bus interchange. |
Block 303 had also been vacated and hoarded up in preparation of works to bring the building down. Unfortunately, the Covid situation has delayed its demolition which was supposed to commence on 1 April and last till 30 June according to Land Transport Authority circulars.
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| 05 July 2020 - Notice seen at block 303 hoarding. |
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| 05 July 2020 - Notice seen at block 303 hoarding. |
The replacement car parking lots have been built on part of the site vacated by the former Choa Chu Kang bus interchange. As the majority of the bus interchange structure has been brought down, space was reconfigured to allow for the provision of replacement parking lots for block 303.
Other works that are necessary for site preparation are the re-siting of the hard court along Choa Chu Kang Avenue 4. The court will be shifted further away from the existing MRT viaducts so as to allow space for the future JRL viaducts to be constructed.
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| 02 July 2020 - Notice seen at block 355. |
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| 02 July 2020 - Map showing relocation of existing hard court |
The relocation of the existing hard court along Choa Chu Kang Avenue 4 was supposed to begin in March and take approximately 2 months. Unfortunately, this has been pushed back as well due to the ongoing Covid situation.
However, with the number of infections coming down and establishment of quick build dormitories with better conditions for migrant construction worker crews, construction activities should be able to resume in time to come. STEC will however, have to ensure safe work practices on its construction sites for contract J102 before it is likely to be able to commence construction activities once again.
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