J102 / Choa Chu Kang, CCK West, Forest Hill & Tengah - A 2024 progress report

The stations of contract J102 in December 2024.

Continuing on with our 2024 progress report, we now come to the stations under contract J102. Arguably the largest contract under the Jurong Region Line (JRL), the contract stretches across approximately 4.3km from Choa Chu Kang to Tengah and includes 3 stations. Also included in the contract are the bare bones for a future station within Tengah's northeast sector, which we refer to as Forest Hill, after the Tengah planning district in which it is located.

Progress on the contract has seen several milestones through 2024 which include the handover of the first sections of viaduct to the track works contractor, completion of launch gantry Mulan's viaduct segment launching and the completion of all viaduct piers along the contract. We take a closer look at the various sections in detail after the jump.

JS1 - Choa Chu Kang
This year has seen big changes for the existing North-South Line (NSL) station. As part of addition & alteration works, a pair of new escalators was added to the northern end of the station along with a new staircase and an intermediate mezzanine level that would allow transfers between lines. Exit C was reopened at the northern end of the station as well, with relocated fare lines and a migrated passenger service centre for the NSL. Demolition and modification works began on the existing escalator and staircase that formerly connected the concourse to the platform level.

The JRL station has also seen tremendous progress, with the platform level slabs completed. Double lift shaft frames serving each platform had been added in too. Typically at most JRL stations, this has preceded roof frame installation works.

21 January 2024 - An aerial view of the Choa Chu Kang interchange station in early 2024.

5 December 2024 - An aerial view of the Choa Chu Kang interchange station in end 2024.

1 January 2024 - The new escalator at the NSL concourse leading to the mezzanine level at the
beginning of the year.

7 December 2024 - The new escalator at the NSL concourse leading to the mezzanine level at the
end of the year.

21 January 2024 - An aerial view of the JRL station's platforms and trackbeds under construction.

5 December 2024 - An aerial view of the JRL station's platforms and trackbeds much further along
in construction.

At the northern end of the station, viaduct piers have long stood ready for viaduct segment launching. That finally took place this year, with the works on-going through December to bridge the gap over Choa Chu Kang Loop. Road closures at night progressively allowed the cantilevered spans to grow progressively longer.

26 January 2024 - Viaduct piers ready and raring to support the viaduct across Choa Chu Kang
Loop.

5 December 2024 - Viaduct piers finally getting their segments at the end of the year.

On the southern end of the station, viaduct construction was progressing steadily. As the year began, viaduct spans had yet to be constructed, with only the first few segments being launched from a single pier. By the end of the year, at least four spans had been constructed on this section which runs parallel to the existing NSL and Bukit Panjang LRT line. Viaduct piers supporting the crossover above Choa Chu Kang Avenue 4 had also been completed, with segment launching taking place progressively.

21 January 2024 - The JRL viaduct as it runs parallel to the NSL and Bukit Panjang LRT line.

5 December 2024 - A view of the progress made on viaduct span construction in this section.

JS2 - Choa Chu Kang West
Choa Chu Kang Avenue 3, the location of the Choa Chu Kang West station, has been transformed through the year. Viaduct construction began in earnest this year, with the launching of segments taking place. At the end of the year, approximately 5 to 6 spans remain to be completed till the entire stretch along Avenue 3 forms one continuous viaduct. In fact, one of the final viaduct piers to be cast within the contract was recently completed along this stretch of track.

Beyond the viaducts and significant progress made on that front, the station has taken shape as well. Beginning the year with works on the concourse level, progress has seen structural works reach the plant rooms at platform level. This is typically the final level of works before the metal roof frame is then installed. The presence of the two lift shaft frames also supports the potential for the roof frame installation to commence shortly. At ground level, work had also commenced on preparations for the station's 2 exits.

21 January 2024 - An aerial view of the Choa Chu Kang West station with precast beam
installation underway to form the concourse level in early 2024. Viaduct piers towards Choa
Chu Kang interchange can also be seen.

5 December 2024 - An aerial view of the Choa Chu Kang West station with works ongoing for
the platform level plant room in end 2024. Viaducts towards Choa Chu Kang interchange can also
be seen.

21 January 2024 - An aerial view of the junction of Choa Chu Kang Avenues 1 and 3 in
early 2024.

5 December 2024 - An aerial view of the junction between Choa Chu Kang Avenues 1 and 3
in end 2024.

24 February 2024 - Portal piers under construction near the junction with Choa Chu Kang Way.

5 December 2024 - Portal piers near Choa Chu Kang Way now support viaduct spans.

18 March 2024 - The curve near the junction of Choa Chu Kang Avenue 3 and Choa Chu Kang
Way in early 2024.

5 December 2024 - The curve near the junction of Choa Chu Kang Avenue 3 and Choa Chu Kang
Way in end 2024.

21 January 2024 - Viaduct piers, some with crossheads, others without along Choa Chu Kang
Avenue 3.

5 December 2024 - Completed viaduct spans along Choa Chu Kang Avenue 3.

JS2A - Forest Hill (Future infill station)
Contract J102 also includes provisions for a future infill station within the Tengah Forest Hills district. The future station will utilise an island platform layout, hence it is easy to tell where the station will be located (as opposed to say Canberra station before its construction). The rail viaducts split to allow a single station platform to serve both bounds and its construction sequence differed from the typical inter-station viaducts'. Over the course of the year, as the viaducts in the vicinity of the future station were constructed, it became easier to tell where the future station would be located.

This was especially so when parapet wall installation along the viaduct began. As the future station utilises a similar design as other stations, a U-shaped trackbed is built into the structure of the station rather than utilising viaduct spans constructed by the precast segmental box girder method as seen at other elevated MRT stations thus far.

21 January 2024 - An aerial view of the construction site next to the Hai Inn Temple along
Brickland Road. The future station can be seen just behind launch gantry Mulan.

5 December 2024 - A view of the construction site next to the Hai Inn Temple. Viaducts have
since been completed.

21 January 2024 - A close up view of the future station, denoted by the U-shaped trackbeds.

5 December 2024 - The change in design between viaduct and trackbed can be easily seen
following the installation of parapet walls on the viaduct.

21 January 2024 - The commencement of segment launching works for the long span across
Brickland Road.

5 December 2024 - The completed long span crossing in end 2024.

5 December 2024 - Launch gantry Mulan making its way back into Tengah for decommissioning
works.

5 December 2024 - Launch gantry Mulan along Choa Chu Kang Avenue 3 as seen from street level.

5 December 2024 - An aerial view of launch gantry Mulan along Choa Chu Kang Avenue 3.

JS3 - Tengah
That elusive station in the heart of the new estate. Despite Tengah estate having opened to the public in August 2023, it has not been easy finding a vantage point from which Tengah station can be easily viewed from. This in turn has made tracking the construction progress of the station a lot more challenging. Nonetheless, it has been possible to see the station grow slightly with the addition of the platform level plant room structures. Unfortunately, due to the lack of vantage points, we are unable to verify what other structures have been installed in the station.

10 January 2024 - Launch gantry Gaia constructing a viaduct span as it approaches the station.

5 December 2024 - The completed viaducts on approach to Tengah station.

18 February 2024 - A view from the south of the viaducts under construction on approach to
Tengah station in early 2024. This view is no longer possible as of December 2024 as housing
blocks are living up to their name, blocking obscuring the view of the viaducts.

7 December 2024 - A new housing block now obscuring the previous view of viaducts leading
to Tengah station.

18 February 2024 - Another view of the elusive Tengah station seen in the distance.

7 December 2024 - A view of Tengah station with the platform level plant rooms visible.

With consistent progress being made on all fronts of the contract, we are confident that the contractor will be able to progressively hand over more segments of completed viaducts to the track works contractor. May 2025 be a great year for the project!

This post will also be available on Instagram & Facebook on 9 December 2024.