J108 - Bukit Batok West update Q2 & Q3 2023

 

16 April 2023 - An aerial view of the station site in early Q2 2023.

Bukit Batok West has been like the middle child in a family of 3 children - there but sometimes a little overlooked. Contract J108 is for the construction of viaducts and stations JE1, JE2 and JE3 for the Jurong Region Line (JRL). With so much action taking place at Tengah Plantation (JE1) and Tengah Park (JE2), with both stations having visible structures up to the concourse level, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out why there hasn't been a lot of coverage of Bukit Batok West. Nonetheless, the sleepy station is finally finding its footing and coming out of its long slumber to show some signs of progress. Do read on to find out more.

May 2023
Progress in Q2 was nothing to write home about really. Things were still going pretty slowly with no signs of the station structure coming up. Even further along at the contract boundary with contract J109, no piers were visible either.

7 May 2023 - A aerial view of the Bukit Batok West station site.

7 May 2023 - A view of the Bukit Batok West station site seen from the pedestrian overhead bridge.

7 May 2023 - The new ramp that would connect with the pedestrian overhead bridge later in Q3.

7 May 2023 - The viaduct work site. Visible is the covered linkway leading to the new ramp
that would replace the current access to the pedestrian overhead bridge.

7 May 2023

7 May 2023 - Covered linkway to connect pedestrians to the new bridge access being built.

7 May 2023 - Piers were at foundation work level. This pier in particular
is important as it is a movement expansion joint pier. Such piers are often
chosen to be the meeting point of 2 contracts' viaducts and this is the case
here.

7 May 2023 - A view of the viaduct construction site next to the Pan Island Expressway.

7 May 2023 - Rebar cages for the bored piles.

7 May 2023 - Concrete blocks on site, presumably to support form work to cast the pier later on.

7 May 2023 - A view towards the contract J109 site, showing the disparity in progress.

7 May 2023

July 2023
Seeing that Q2 was a little slow in progress, we move on to updates for Q3. Finally, some work can be seen for all the toiling that the construction team has done over the last few months. The base of a pier is beginning to take shape.

15 July 2023 - An aerial view looking west of the viaduct construction site. The base of the first
pier can be seen slowly taking shape.

15 July 2023 - At the moment, the base of the pier is the only one visible along the stretch.

23 July 2023 - An aerial view of the station site which appears no different from Q2.

23 July 2023

23 July 2023

23 July 2023 - A view of the station site looking eastwards.

August 2023
In the middle of Q3 2023, progress became more visible both at the viaduct site and the station site. At the viaduct site, the rebar for the movement expansion joint was apparent as the pier's column grew further. It had about reached the crown level with the hammerhead crosshead yet to be constructed.

Over at the station, the first signs of the columns for the station became visible as well. Peeking through the soil at the site, there was finally some traction for the works at Bukit Batok West station.

20 August 2023 - Rebar for the first pier column visible at the viaduct site.

20 August 2023 - A closer view of the rebar shows the lower height of the pier, indicative of the
pier being a movement expansion joint type.

20 August 2023 - Notice to residents of the impending closure of the
existing pedestrian overhead bridge access and the opening of the new
access ramp.

20 August 2023 - A view of rebar for the station columns peeking out of the soil with the footings
below (seen as triangular slabs where there is no water covering).

20 August 2023 - Another view of the rebar for the station columns. There are approximately 4
columns visible.

20 August 2023 - Looking eastwards to the viaduct site.

20 August 2023 - Work on the viaduct pier in the distance.

20 August 2023 - Another view of the rebar for the station columns.

20 August 2023 - A view of the new access ramp for the pedestrian overhead bridge that would
soon be replacing the existing ramp & staircase. This would allow for the existing access'
demolition to facilitate construction. The entire pedestrian bridge would eventually be replaced
with a station linkbridge.

20 August 2023

27 August 2023 - Station column rebar as seen from the Pan Island Expressway.

27 August 2023

27 August 2023

27 August 2023

27 August 2023 - The lower part of the viaduct pier had since been cast, leaving the flared crown
yet to have the same treatment.

September 2023
With the first few structures coming up in the prior month, work began to become more visible at this section of contract J108. The first viaduct pier had now been cast up to the crown level with work continuing on the crosshead. This would allow neighbouring contractor for contract J109 to begin viaduct construction when the pier is handed over to them. Upon completion of the viaduct span, the pier will be handed back to the J108 contractor.

The beginnings of further station columns were also noted with more footings becoming visible. However, it was still limited to a single row only instead of the double rows that will be required for the completion of the station building. Across the Pan Island Expressway, the beginning of construction for the station exit at YuHua estate could be seen. Yellow construction fencing was present near the multi-purpose hall & shelter that would have to make way for construction work.

24 September 2023 - A view eastwards of the viaduct site as seen from the new replacement
access ramp for the pedestrian overhead bridge.

24 September 2023

24 September 2023 - Scaffolding and formwork in place for the assembly of the hammerhead
of the movement expansion joint crosshead.

24 September 2023 - A view of ongoing works for the viaduct pier. The completion of this pier
would allow the neighbouring contractor to connect their viaduct section here.

24 September 2023 - A close up view of ongoing works.

24 September 2023 - A view of the new replacement ramp for the pedestrian overhead bridge.

24 September 2023 - The former access ramp prior to demolition.

24 September 2023 - The single row of now approximately 6 station columns visible.

24 September 2023

24 September 2023 - The triangular footing clearly visible.

24 September 2023 - This multi-purpose hall & shelter will be demolished to make way for
a station exit construction site at YuHua estate. It will eventually be replaced once works are
completed.

Notice sent on contract J108's Telegram channel on upcoming works
for the YuHua estate exit.

Q3 has been good to Bukit Batok West station with progress beginning to be seen at both the viaduct and station work sites. Thus far, all the attention has largely been on the other two stations of the contract with viaduct spans being constructed and station buildings taking shape. It's timely that Bukit Batok West, too, shows some progress.

This post will also be available on Instagram & Facebook on 23 October 2023.