J106 - Boon Lay update Q1 2023

19 March 2023

We now check in on contract J106 for the construction of Boon Lay station and associated viaducts. Apart from contracts J102 and J108, this contract was another to begin viaduct construction work early. Instead of using a launching gantry to lift segmental box girders into position, this contract instead uses the lifting frame method. Let's check in on the progress made in Q1 of 2023.

15 January 2023
Construction works along Jurong West Street 64 were concentrated on viaduct pier construction. Several pier columns were at the base level while others were being cast up to the flared crown level. A handful were having their crossheads being cast ahead of progressing to the viaduct construction phase.

15 January 2023 - Viaduct pier crosshead under construction.

15 January 2023 - The base of another viaduct pier column.

15 January 2023 - Viaduct piers under construction.

5 February 2023
In some renders, it was noted that the eastern end of the existing East-West Line (EWL) Boon Lay station was modified. Subsequently, hoarding was noted at the same end of the station. It is likely that an emergency exit staircase may be added here to provide additional means of escape during emergency situations.

5 February 2023 - Eastern end of EWL Boon Lay station.

5 February 2023 - Eastern end as seen from a train.

5 February 2023

12 February 2023
Approximately a month after our visit in January, we check back in on the progress of works along Jurong West Street 64. The pier whose crosshead was formerly being cast had since been completed. The hanger beams that would kick off viaduct construction had also been lifted up into position.

12 February 2023 - Viaduct piers under construction.

12 February 2023 - Hanger beams installed on a viaduct pier.

12 February 2023 - Crosshead construction underway for a pier further south.

12 February 2023 - A close up view of the installed hanger beams.

19 February 2023
Merely a week later and the first tranche of 4 segmental box girders (SBG) had been lifted into place, suspended by the hanger beams which are the first phase of installation under the lifting frame method. Following the installation of the first SBG on each trackway of each bound to provide both balance and a sufficiently large deck to work from, the hanger beam is switched out and replaced with a lifting frame. The main difference between the two is the presence of a winch on the lifting frame, allowing it to lift SBGs into place without the need for an external crane to assist.

19 February 2023 - The site at the contract boundary with J105.

19 February 2023 - A partially cast viaduct pier column.

19 February 2023 - A view of piers along Jurong West Street 64 with the first SBGs installed.

19 February 2023 - A close up view of the pier with SBGs installed.

19 February 2023 - Another view from the opposite side of the street.

19 February 2023 - SBGs with a mobile crane visible next to the pier.

19 February 2023

19 February 2023 - SBG installation as seen from street level.

19 February 2023 - An aerial view of the installed SBGs.

19 February 2023

19 February 2023

19 February 2023 - South of the junction with Jurong West Central 1,
work for the viaduct piers is focused on the pile caps.

19 February 2023

19 February 2023 - A close up view of the hanger beams.

19 February 2023

25 February 2023
Passing westwards of the existing EWL Boon Lay station allows a view to the south where the upcoming Jurong Region Line (JRL) station will sit. The future station will in fact straddle the existing EWL tracks allowing convenient transfer between the lines. To do so however, huge piers capable of bearing the weight of the station need to be constructed to support the station structure above. Works at the southern end are still focused on foundation works for these piers.

25 February 2023 - A view of the work site south of the EWL.

25 February 2023 - An auger machine visible for boring piles.

25 February 2023 - The diverted Street 64 coming in to view.

12 March 2023
Around mid-March and the lifting frames were finally on site along Jurong West Street 64, pending the removal of the hanger beams after the SBGs installed had been tensioned & epoxy applied to seal the bond to the viaduct pier crosshead. Following this, the hanger beam could be replaced with a lifting frame which would allow subsequent SBGs to be lifted, tensioned and similarly bonded to the preceding SBG.

At the station site, the beginnings of the base of the viaduct pier immediately south of the station were beginning to show. Following the pile cap casting, the pier column would thereafter begin to grow upwards till the flared crown level.

12 March 2023 - A view northwards from the junction with Jurong
West Central 1.

12 March 2023

12 March 2023 - Construction along Jurong West Street 64.

12 March 2023 - The lifting frame on site.

12 March 2023

12 March 2023 - Preparation of the lifting frame for installation on the viaduct deck.

12 March 2023

12 March 2023 - A view of station construction north of the EWL as
seen from Jurong Point mall.

12 March 2023 - A view of the station site seen from the south along Jurong West Street 64.

12 March 2023 - The beginnings of a viaduct pier south of the
station.

12 March 2023

12 March 2023 - A view of the relocation bicycle parking bays & the hoarded up area where they
were formerly located.

12 March 2023 - A view of the western end of the EWL station, with
the area formerly occupied by the bicycle parking bays visible through
the atrium.

12 March 2023 - A view of the site south of the EWL.

12 March 2023

12 March 2023 - A view of the site north of the EWL.

12 March 2023

12 March 2023

12 March 2023 - The site of a future JRL station exit.

12 March 2023

19 March 2023
This week in March saw the completion of more viaduct pier crossheads. This allowed the transfer of the hanger beams, making way for the lifting frames to be put into position on one of the piers. Construction of further crossheads also continued to facilitate viaduct construction.

19 March 2023 - The construction of crossheads commencing near
the junction with Jurong West Central 1.

19 March 2023 - Installation of hanger beams on top of a new pier
crosshead.

19 March 2023 - Viaduct construction seen from above.

19 March 2023 - Construction along Jurong West Street 64.

19 March 2023 - Installation of the lifting frame.

19 March 2023 - A close up showing the lifting frame and hanger beam.

19 March 2023 - Lifting frame assembly seen from street level.

19 March 2023 - Profile view of the lifting frame.

19 March 2023 - Viaduct construction southwards to Boon Lay station.

With work picking up speed to construct the viaducts, we look forward to further updates once quarter 2 ends. Do follow along to see the differences over time.

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