J102 - Choa Chu Kang West update Q2 2023

 

2 June 2023 - A view of the station piers.

Contract J102 involves the construction of 3 stations along the Jurong Region Line (JRL) and provisions for a future infill station as well. Stretching approximately 4.3km, the second station along the line is located on Choa Chu Kang Avenue 3 and is tentatively called Choa Chu Kang West. We check in on the progress made at the station site as of quarter 2 of 2023.

2 January 2023 - A view of the station site along Choa Chu Kang
Avenue 3, looking eastwards from the southern side.

2 January 2023 - Excavation pits to construct the pile caps.

16 April 2023 - A view of the station site along Choa Chu Kang Avenue 3, looking eastwards from
the northern side.

14 May 2023 - The first two station piers to spring up in the road median.

14 May 2023 - Further station piers under construction.

14 May 2023

2 June 2023 - The previously seen first two completed station pier columns.

2 June 2023 - A further three station pier columns under construction.

2 June 2023 - Further west, additional station columns under construction.

Station
Over the year, the station site has progressed from having no piers constructed to five piers whose columns have since come up. In fact, it was within quarter 2 itself that the piers started coming up. From the above images, as of April, there still were no columns cast yet. Following the completion of the first few pier columns, work is likely to be focused on completing all columns required to support the station structure.

Once that has been completed, it is likely that the pier crosshead construction will begin. The crossheads, like many other JRL stations, will support the concourse level slab. Typically, precast concrete beams are used and assembled here.

2 January 2023 - Viaduct piers under construction.

2 January 2023 - Rebar installation for viaduct piers is under way.

2 January 2023

2 January 2023 - Another viaduct pier under construction on the road
side table.

2 January 2023 - An aerial view of the viaduct piers under construction
at the road junction.

2 January 2023

2 January 2023 - A close up view of the rebar installation.

2 January 2023 - Street level view.

2 January 2023

2 January 2023

23 March 2023 - Street level view of the same junction.

23 March 2023 - Viaduct pier casting has been completed.

23 March 2023 - An aerial view of the junction.

14 May 2023 - Aerial view of the junction.

14 May 2023 - Road diversion in place to commence utility
diversion and subsequent construction of the southern pier column.

14 May 2023 - Work underway in the road median for the construction
of the northern pier column.

14 May 2023

2 June 2023 - Street level view with the junction in the foreground.

2 June 2023 - The beginning of rebar installation works for the northern pier column.

Choa Chu Kang Avenue 3 & Choa Chu Kang Way junction
Works at the junction are interesting, largely due to the number of portal frame piers that we will be seeing as the line navigates the curve from running along Choa Chu Kang Avenue 3 to running parallel to the existing North-South Line (NSL) and Bukit Panjang LRT (BPLRT) line to Choa Chu Kang terminus. At this junction, several halves of the portal frame piers have come up.

Work is currently ongoing to construction the remaining pier column before the portal can be fully constructed. To construct the portal, a frame will be installed to allow rebar and concrete casting works to take place without disrupting traffic flow below.

2 January 2023 - A view westwards of the junction with Brickland Road.

2 January 2023 - Construction works in the median of Choa Chu Kang Avenue 3.

16 April 2023 - Pier foundation works for the special crossing underway
along Choa Chu Kang Avenue 3.

2 June 2023 - The base of the special crossing pier on the Brickland Road
side.

2 June 2023 - An aerial view of the base of the special crossing pier on the Brickland Road side.

2 June 2023 - A close up view of the Brickland Road side special crossing pier.

2 June 2023 - Excavation pit for the Choa Chu Kang Avenue 3 side of the
special crossing pier.

2 June 2023 - A close up view of the same.

Choa Chu Kang Avenue 3 & Brickland Road junction
The junction at Choa Chu Kang Avenue 3 & Brickland Road poses a unique challenge for contractor Shanghai Tunnel Engineering Co (STEC) because in addition to the presence of a junction that negates the construction of any pier to support the viaduct structure, a large canal also exists next to the junction. This adds further distance for which the viaduct structure has no pier support underneath.

To enable the crossing, larger piers carrying a taller viaduct structure is required. The taller viaduct segments will help to provide sufficient horizontal force to support the extended span with no vertical support in between.

2 June 2023 - A view westwards along Choa Chu Kang Avenue 3 towards Tengah, showing the
progress of construction along the roadway.

2 June 2023 - The base of further viaduct piers can be seen on the eastern end, nearer to the existing
NSL & BPLRT tracks.

2 June 2023 - An aerial view of construction work looking eastwards, near the junction with
Choa Chu Kang Way.

2 June 2023 - A street level view eastwards along Choa Chu Kang Avenue 3.

2 June 2023 - Looking eastwards once again.

Overall, construction has progressed over the last 2 quarters of the year. Viaduct piers are beginning to slowly appear, although somewhat sporadically. In particular, only the portal piers seem to have sprung up to the full height with the regular viaduct piers not coming up yet - most are still only at the base level despite having been constructed some time ago.

As we move into the final month of quarter 2, we expect that work will remain constant and we should begin seeing one of the portal piers have its second column coming up. Further ahead in quarter 3, more viaduct piers can be expected to come up, especially the ones at the special crossing. It is likely that the resources are scheduled to allocate more time to the piers that require more time to construct due to their complexities.

That said, do stay tuned as we bring you more updates in time to come. Thanks for following along thus far! You can also stay tuned to our briefer updates on our other social media channels - links below & in the side panel.

This post is also available on Instagram & Facebook from 4 June 2023.