J102 - A deep dive into Choa Chu Kang's modifications

Graphical representation of the existing Choa Chu Kang North-South Line station concourse and
transfer mezzanine level before the Jurong Region Line expansion.

Graphical representation of the Choa Chu Kang station concourse & transfer mezzanine levels
after modification works for the Jurong Region Line.

There has been a lot of work going on at Choa Chu Kang station ahead of the Jurong Region Line (JRL)'s arrival in 2027. All these works will serve to allow the station to increase its capacity for handling commuter traffic. What are the works taking place and how will these help to increase the station's capacity you may ask? We're here to break it down so that you'll be able to better understand the ongoing works.

Modification works at Choa Chu Kang station entail the following:

• Demolition of former Exit D & using this area for an expanded concourse fare paid area linking the North-South Line (NSL) & JRL
• Construction of a second lift to serve the existing NSL platform
• Addition of new mezzanine level on the northern side of the station to facilitate transfers between NSL & JRL
• Demolition, replacement & reconfiguration of existing escalators & staircases connecting NSL concourse & platform levels
• Expansion of existing mezzanine level on southern side of the station to facilitate transfers between NSL, JRL & BPLRT
• Reconfiguration of existing fare gate layout from one fare line to 3 fare lines
• Reconfiguration of circulation spaces within fare paid & fare unpaid areas of the NSL station concourse
• Reconfiguration of retail outlets within NSL station
• Relocation of passenger service centre for NSL station

Demolition of former Exit D & integration of the area into an expanded concourse fare paid area for linking NSL & JRL

Exit D of the station used to allow passengers to transfer from the MRT to the bus interchange which was located to the west of the station. The Exit was subsequently closed off on 28 April 2022 to allow for the expansion of the station's concourse fare paid area and integration with the JRL station which would occupy the site of the former Choa Chu Kang bus interchange. Works have since involved decommissioning the exit, removal of the automated fare collection (AFC) equipment and subsequent demolition of the associated structures. In future, passengers will be able to walk through the former exit to access the JRL side of the concourse directly.

A graphical representation of the former Choa Chu Kang NSL station concourse area with Exit D
shown in the dotted box.

25 April2 2022 - Original layout of the station & exit lettering. Choa Chu Kang bus interchange
had already shifted to its temporary location.

22 June 2020 - A view of Exit D while still operational.

24 April 2022 - A view of the former Exit D with fare line for entry or exit.

25 February 2023 - A view of the former Exit D hoarded up.

13 August 2023 - A view of the demolition of Exit D in progress.

28 December 2023 - The former Exit D, since demolished.

A graphical representation of Choa Chu Kang NSL station's concourse level after the demolition
of Exit D.

Construction of a second lift to serve the existing NSL platform
The NSL will, in future, be served by an additional platform for trains headed towards Marina South Pier, allowing cross-platform transfer to the JRL. To boost capacity at the existing platform which will continue serving trains headed in both directions, an additional lift will be constructed to the north of the existing lift. The existing platform will not have cross-platform transfers available, hence passengers will need to descend to either the concourse level or transfer mezzanine level to switch between lines. Lift access will not be available to the transfer mezzanine level.

A graphical representation of the Choa Chu Kang NSL platform level with one lift.

A graphical representation of the Choa Chu Kang NSL platform level with two lifts. Do note that
the lift to be added will be to the north of the existing one.

4 September 2022 - A view of the concourse fare paid area looking
southwards. The single lift shaft can be seen serving the existing
NSL platform.

21 January 2024 - A view of the existing lift shaft from the concourse level, seen from the southern
end of the station.

21 January 2024 - A view of the lift landing at the existing platform level looking southwards. The
second lift will be added next to the existing lift, where the bench and system map are currently
located.

Addition of new mezzanine level on the northern side of the station to facilitate transfers between NSL & JRL
In order to free up the concourse level and minimise the crowds heading all the way down to make transfers from Jurong East-bound NSL trains to the JRL and vice-versa, a new transfer mezzanine level is being built at the northern end of the station. Escalators and staircases from the platform level will connect to the mezzanine level, enabling passengers to cross between lines at this level. A further set of escalators and stairs will connect the mezzanine level to the concourse level below. A similar arrangement is already in place at the station's southern end for transfers to and from the BPLRT.

A graphical representation of the new transfer mezzanine level to be added at the northern end
of the station. New escalators will be added to the side of the existing escalators to connect the
concourse level with the mezzanine level.

28 December 2023 - A view of the stairs being built as between the transfer mezzanine and
concourse levels.

1 January 2024 - Another view of the stairs leading from the concourse level to the transfer
mezzanine level, seen from the existing staircase at the northern end of the station.

1 January 2024 - New escalators that will connect the concourse level with the new transfer
mezzanine level, seen from the existing staircase at the northern end of the station. These are built
next to the existing staircase & escalator.

Demolition, replacement & reconfiguration of existing escalators & staircases connecting NSL concourse & platform levels
One of the more major reconfiguration works undertaken at the station will be the flipping of the direction of the escalators between the concourse and platform. In fact, the escalators at the station will all be removed to connect to the new transfer mezzanine level instead of directly to the concourse level. In addition, the number of escalators available will be doubled from the current two that serve the existing platform, with one each for up-riding and down-riding directions at either end of the platform.

Currently, the escalators face away from the lift landing at the platform level. In the new configuration, the escalators will face the lift landing instead. This is completely opposite to the direction in which the escalators are currently arranged.

A graphical representation of the layout of the new escalators connecting the NSL platform to
the transfer mezzanine level below. The orientation of the escalators at platform level will now
face the lifts instead of away from the lifts.

18 November 2023 - The existing escalator and staircase at the northern end of the station.

21 January 2024 - The existing escalator and staircase at the southern end of the station.

Staircase access on the southern end will make use of the existing staircase available for transfers to the Bukit Panjang LRT. On the northern end, an additional staircase is being built to connect the existing platform with the new transfer mezzanine level.

9 August 2023 - The former atrium at the northern end of the platform, since sealed up for
construction of the new staircase.

13 August 2023

21 January 2024 - A view of the new staircase at the northern end of the station, seen from street
level.

21 January 2024

22 May 2024

22 May 2024

Expansion of existing mezzanine level on southern side of the station to facilitate transfers between NSL, JRL & BPLRT
While the transfer mezzanine at the northern end of the station allows transfers between 2 lines, the one at the south will be expanded to allow transfer between all three lines - the NSL, the JRL & the BPLRT.

A graphical representation of the expansion of the existing transfer mezzanine level at the southern
end of the station where the existing transfer to the BP LRT is located. Also visible in the model
is the new arrangement for passengers or commuters travelling between the platform and
concourse levels by escalators, which must use the transfer mezzanine level.

30 July 2023 - A view of the southern transfer mezzanine level leading to the stairs to the NSL
concourse area.

6 August 2023 - A close up of the stairs connecting to the NSL concourse.

18 November 2023 - A view of the transfer mezzanine level as seen from the BPLRT transfer
link bridge.

18 November 2023 - The transfer mezzanine level at the southern end of the station.

22 May 2024 - Construction of the stairs and the transfer mezzanine level within the JRL
station area at the southern end.

Reconfiguration of existing fare gate layout from one fare line to 3 fare lines
The existing NSL station has a simple fare line layout with the fare gates existing as a single line on either side of the passenger service centre. With the station expanded, this fare line will be split into 3 separate rows of gates that will correspond to the locations of Exits A (facing Lot One), B (facing Choa Chu Kang Avenue 4) and C (facing Choa Chu Kang Loop). The works involve re-tiling the ticketing hall areas and the laying of cabling underneath the flooring to support the new locations of the future fare gate lines.

A graphical representation of the new fare gate layout, represented by the red boxes. Also in view
is the location of the new passenger service centre (PSC).

24 April 2022 - A view of the corridor towards Exit C with vacated shops units visible.

24 April 2022 - A view of the corridor from Exit B towards the fare line.

9 August 2023 - A view of the single fare line with gates on either side of the passenger service
centre, located in the middle of the station.

9 August 2023 - A view of the old tiling at the ticket hall. The ceiling panels have been replaced
by temporary construction netting.

9 August 2023 - A view of Exit A before re-tiling work commenced.

21 January 2024

21 January 2024

20 April 2024 - Re-tiling works underway within the ticket hall, behind the barricaded area.
A portion of the hall to the left has had the re-tiling work completed.

20 April 2024 - A portion of the ticket hall with re-tiling works completed.

20 April 2024 - A view of Exit A when re-tiling works were underway.

20 April 2024 - Another view of the re-tiling works in progress at Exit A.

22 May 2024 - Work to complete re-tiling was taking place in phases sequentially from the
northern end to the southern end of the ticket hall.

22 May 2024 - The limit of the re-tiling section visible when the new and old tiles meet.

22 May 2024 - The black covers with yellow tape on the sides represents where the new line of
fare gates for Exit A will be located - much closer to the exit.

22 May 2024 - A view of the section with re-tiling completed, underneath the skylight at the centre
of the ticket hall. New ceiling panels have been partially installed as well.

22 May 2024 - A view of Exit A from Lot One with about two-thirds of the area since re-tiled.

Reconfiguration of retail outlets within NSL station
One of the most noticeable changes to the existing station is the reconfiguration of the retail outlet spaces within. Formerly, operator SMRT had opened up an xChange at Choa Chu Kang in the early to mid-2000's under former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Saw Phaik Hua. Coming from a retail background, Ms. Saw knew how to generate revenue through retail leasing. Thus, she embarked on a plan to utilise the available space at MRT stations and convert them into leasable retail units. The design at Choa Chu Kang in particular, utilised a bright lime colour in a bid to catch the attention of passing commuters to the myriad of shops that were newly available there.

Under the JRL project, the bulk of these retail outlets would have to make way for new corridors and station expansion plans. While the existing shops were relocated to a temporary premises for the duration of construction, the new, expanded station catered for shop lots within as well. The Land Transport Authority understands that revenue generated from non-farebox streams aids the operator in keeping transport costs low and attempts to build in these additional units to supplement revenue obtained by the operator from fareboxes (the revenue generated from your use of the MRT). Some of the new shops will be ready for tenant takeover when the first phase of the station's remodeling is completed.

24 April 2022 - Vacated shops next to Exit A.

24 April 2022 - Vacated shops along a corridor to Exit B.

22 May 2024 - Shops next to the existing Exit A that are almost ready for tenant takeover when
the first phase of the station's expansion work is completed.

22 May 2024 - A look into one of the new retail shop units near Exit A.

Reconfiguration of circulation spaces within fare paid & fare unpaid areas of the NSL station concourse
The final component for the station upgrade is the reconfiguration of circulation spaces within. Certain corridors that were formerly fare unpaid corridors will be converted into fare paid zones while others are repurposed as public restrooms. The NSL station's former public restrooms were located between the station and the former bus interchange, near Exit D. These were subsequently shifted to the temporary retail outlets facility when the shops were moved.

With the station upgrade, the NSL's new public restrooms will be located facing Lot One shopping mall, between the LRT station's Exit F and the NSL station's Exit A.

24 April 2022 - Former public restrooms of the existing station, located
between the station and former bus interchange.

24 April 2022 - Former public restrooms of the existing station, located
between the station and former bus interchange.

2 June 2024 - A view of the corridor near Exit A, from the LRT station. Public restrooms for the
NSL station will be located here.

2 June 2024 - A view of new ceiling panels going in for the corridor leading to the new NSL
station public restrooms.

2 June 2024 - A view of the new accessible restroom along the corridor near Exit A.

With the relocation of the faregate lines within the existing NSL station, certain corridors leading to Exits B and C will be repurposed as fare paid corridors with the faregate lines located within. This is needed to serve the expanded concourse fare paid area once the new escalators connecting the concourse and transfer mezzanine levels are added in.

24 April 2022 - Vacated shops along a corridor to Exit C.

22 May 2024 - A view of the former corridor towards Exit C, part of which will become an
extension of the concourse fare paid area.

18 November 2023 - The corridor towards Exit B during station upgrading works.

18 November 2023 - Another view of the vacated corridor during station upgrading works. The
horrid tile colour combination can also be seen during this period.

2 June 2024 - A view of the corridor towards Exit B during the station upgrading works process.
The tile flooring is being changed out to a more neutral grey tone, without clashing colours.

2 June 2024 - Another view of the corridor towards the station's Exit B during upgrading works.

Relocation of passenger service centre (PSC) for NSL station
The PSC for the NSL station will be relocated from its current position in the middle of the existing single fare line. Its new location will be where the former Cheers store was located, at the corner of the existing ticket hall. Works have been underway to create the new rooms for the PSC, which in newer stations also includes an adjoining station manager's room.

18 November 2023 - A view of the existing PSC in the middle of the existing single fare line as
seen from the concourse unpaid area.

22 May 2024 - A view of the PSC from within the concourse fare paid area.

22 May 2024 - The new PSC under construction at the corner of the ticket hall.

2 June 2024 - The new PSC at Exit A. Tactile floor guides can be seen leading up to the counter.

The expansion of Choa Chu Kang station is a major undertaking that not only includes building an entirely new section of the station building, but also a major reconfiguration of the existing station spaces. All these works have to take place while the existing station remains operational to serve commuters without interrupting their daily journeys. As such, the work is being done in phases. The first phase likely to be affected by the escalator shut down between the concourse and platforms will be the northern end, after a portion of the transfer mezzanine and staircase from the mezzanine to platform level is ready.

With this new replacement connection, work can begin on decommissioning the existing escalator before its demolition. Once the new escalators are installed, tested & commissioned, the process is likely to be repeated at the southern end of the station. Its still a few more years before all the heavy works are completed, so hang in there if these works happen to take place during part of your journey. The good news is that each day is a day closer to its eventual completion.

We hope this deep dive into the modification works for the station give you a better understanding of what is taking place and, more importantly, why they are taking place.

This post will also be available on Instagram & Facebook on 12 June 2024.