J102 - An update in Q1 2025

An overview of the 4 station sites under contract J102 as of end-Q1 2025.
Top (L - R) : JS1 - Choa Chu Kang (image by tan_yekai), JS2 - Choa Chu Kang West
Bottom (L - R) : JS2A - Forest Hill infill station, JS3 - Tengah

We're moving onto recapping the Q1 2025 progress of contract J102, awarded to Shanghai Tunnel Engineering Co. This contract of the Jurong Region Line (JRL) saw several key milestones being hit this past quarter, including but not limited to completion of viaduct segment launching, the commencement of roof frame installation works at the stations and the installation of escalators within the stations. We'll cover these in greater detail as we look at each station site closer.

JS1 - Choa Chu Kang
Major advancements at Choa Chu Kang station through the quarter include the commencement of roof frame installation works and the installation of escalators in the JRL station section. Significant progress was made to complete the launching of viaduct segments within the remaining gaps.

8 March 2025 - An aerial view of the station work site at the end of the quarter.
Image by tan_yekai

23 February 2025 - An aerial view of the station work site in the middle of the quarter.

25 January 2025 - An aerial view of the station work site in the beginning of the quarter.

Roof frame works
Installation of the station roof frame began this quarter with works focused on the new platform shared between the North-South Line (NSL) and JRL. Falsework was put up to allow lifting works to launch the segments of the roof frame onto the moveable tracks, after which the frames were slid across to the final desired location. This method allowed for smaller cranes to be used on the tight confines of the site.

25 January 2025 - A close up view of the station platforms in early Q1 2025. Frames were being set
up to support the roof frame installation and to allow the lifted frames to be slid in across the
two JRL tracks. This allows a smaller crane to be used as the boom would not need to reach all
the way across the station with a load suspended below.

25 January 2025 - A view from the station's west shows the box frames being set up as temporary
support for the system being used to slide the roof frame segments in.

27 January 2025 - A view of the support columns erected at the new station platform as permanent
supports for the roof frame.

27 January 2025 - The permanent support column, lift shaft frame and temporary support box
frame all in one frame (shot).

27 January 2025 - The first roof frame segment on site ahead of lifting works.

27 January 2025 - A close up view of the roof frame segment.

27 January 2025 - Support columns and box frames at platform level.

15 February 2025 - The first roof frame, since lifted and slid into position on the new platform
to be shared between the NSL & JRL.

 

15 February 2025 - Another view of the first roof frame segment installed.

14 March 2025 - A view of the works' progress, with subsequent columns installed and more box
frames with supporting rails for sliding the roof frame segments in.

14 March 2025 - Roof frame segments lifted and in progress of being slid into position on the
shared platform.

14 March 2025

Installation of escalators
Installation of escalators connecting the concourse level and the transfer mezzanine at the new station space commenced this quarter. Initially the frame of the escalators being installed was visible before being covered in yellow tarpaulin subsequently. The escalators on the JRL are being supplied by Constructions navales et industrielles de la Méditerranée (CNIM), that had previously supplied the escalators installed on the Downtown Line.

27 January 2025 - A view of the escalator frame visible through the netting.

15 February 2025 - A view of the interior of the JRL section of the station. Ducting can be seen
installed along the ceiling.

15 March 2025 - Another view of the JRL section's concourse. The escalators were covered in
yellow tarpaulin. Electrical cable troughs can be seen installed in addition to the ducting seen
in February.

Completion of viaduct segment launching
Viaduct construction works continued through the quarter, with the completion of viaduct segment launching being achieved in March 2025. Most notably, the three beams that would support the crossover just south of the station has seen significant progress with the remaining gaps being filled in by the end of the quarter.

25 January 2025 - An aerial view of the station site and approach viaducts. The section with
three parallel beams will be where the crossover will be located.

8 March 2025 - Progress of the approach viaducts with all gaps since filled in.
Image by tan_yekai

25 January 2025 - A view of a section of the viaduct with viaduct segments yet to be launched in
early Q1 2025.

25 January 2025 - A view from the west of the work site with gaps in the viaduct beams visible.

25 January 2025 - Viaduct segment launching underway for remaining sections of the approach
viaducts. A combination of launching methods was being used in this sector, including the trestle
method and balanced cantilevered method.

15 March 2025 - A view of the since completed viaduct beams.

15 March 2025

JS2 - Choa Chu Kang West
Major advancements to the construction of the station over the past quarter include the commencement of roof frame installation, escalator installation and the station exits taking shape. We'll check these out in detail over the individual sub-sections below.

15 March 2025 - A view of Choa Chu Kang West station's progress by end-Q1.

27 January 2025 - A view of Choa Chu Kang West station's progress in early-Q1.

Commencement of roof frame installation
The installation of the station's roof frame commenced with the installation of the diamond-shaped columns that would support the archways above the station's platform. These columns will be anchored to the station's structure through supports at concourse level and held in place by additional bracing along the columns supporting the trackbed.

15 March 2025 - Two diamond-shaped columns installed on the southern edge of the station.

23 February 2025 - As of mid-Q1 these frames were not yet installed.

15 March 2025 - In addition to the diamond-shaped columns, several parts of the arch were staged
atop the plant rooms at the station's southern end.

15 March 2025 - An aerial view showing the two pairs of diamond-columns installed.

15 March 2025 - An alternate view of the diamond-columns from street level.

Construction of Exit podium structures
The station will be accessible through 2 exits located on either side of the roadway. Construction of these podiums, which will be connected to the station structure through linkbridges, has made progress to the concourse level. Each podium will house a lift, a staircase and two sets of escalators.

27 January 2025 - Construction of the exit along the northbound carriageway of Choa Chu Kang
Avenue 3 underway. The structure was at foundation level.

23 February 2025 - Progress of the exit podium structure along the northbound carriageway.

15 March 2025 - The exit podium structure reaching concourse level height.

15 March 2025 - Another view of the upcoming exit podium structure along the northbound
carriageway.

23 February 2025 - A view of the exit podium along the southbound carriageway of Choa Chu
Kang Avenue 3 taking shape as it approaches concourse level height.

15 March 2025 - A view of the southern exit podium from street level.

15 March 2025

15 March 2025

Completion of viaduct segment launching
The contract completed the launching of all 3008 viaduct segments through the length of the entire contract. The final segment was launched near the station site, just before the junction of Choa Chu Kang Avenue 3 and Choa Chu Kang Way. A small ceremony was held to celebrate the momentous occasion, bringing the line a further step closer to completion.

15 March 2025 - A view of the viaduct beams towards Choa Chu Kang station. The final segment
was launched along this section.

15 March 2025 - A segmental box girder, likely the final segment, on site along Choa Chu Kang
Avenue 3.

March 2025 - Launching of the final viaduct beam segment.
Source: LinkedIn

Installation of escalators
As with Choa Chu Kang station, the installation of escalators also commenced this past quarter as well. While initial renders showed the station having 3 escalators between the concourse and platform levels, it appears that for the time being only 2 escalators will be installed. The escalator pit for the third set remains but has been replaced by a metal staircase, likely for easy removal of the staircase in future and installation of the final escalator when demand warrants.

27 January 2025 - The first escalator installed visible as a yellow tarpaulin cover, located towards
the southern end of the station.

27 January 2025 - A view of the station concourse with the second set of escalators visible at
the northern end of the station.

27 January 2025 - A close up view of the escalator at the southern end installed.

23 February 2025 - The outline of the metal staircase visible. The connection points for the
staircase's steps can be seen.

15 March 2025 - The metal staircase was completed and sits next to another staircase made
from concrete.

15 March 2025 - A close up view of the two staircases side by side.

15 March 2025 - Covers installed over the constructed escalator pit for future escalator installation
when demand warrants.

15 March 2025 - A view of the escalator at the station's northern end.

15 March 2025 - A close up view of the stairs and escalator at the station's northern end.

JS2A - Forest Hill
Progress over at the future infill station site in the Forest Hill district of Tengah New Town is a tad more mundane compared to other sections of the the line under this contract. Nonetheless, progress has been consistent with the installation of rail system components prior to handover to the trackworks contractor mostly completed. With a future Temporary Staging Area (TSA) for trackworks located next to the tracks here, work is likely to pick up once the TSA for trackworks contract J150 is commissioned.

15 March 2025 - A view of the shell station structure in end-Q1.

23 February 2025 - A view of the shell station structure in mid-Q1.

27 January 2025 - A view of the shell station structure in early-Q1.

27 January 2025 - Viaducts leading into Tengah New Town in early-Q1.

23 February 2025 - Viaducts leading into Tengah New Town in mid-Q1.

15 March 2025

15 March 2025 - Viaducts leading into Tengah New Town in end-Q1.

JS3 - Tengah
Despite several new build-to-order precincts opening within Tengah New Town, the station remains obscured by the canopy line of the surrounding vegetation. It is thus rather difficult to obtain close up images of the station and to better understand its progress. Nonetheless, from what we managed to see, the station has commenced the installation of its roof frames this past quarter. Initially starting with 1 frame, by the end of the quarter, this number appears to have progressed to 6 frames.

23 March 2025 - A view of Tengah station with the roof frames being installed over the platform.

25 January 2025 - Tengah station, with the first set of roof frames being installed, in early-Q1.

Rail laying & trackworks
The first section of viaduct handed over to the trackworks contractor was located south of Tengah station - an area we refer to as Tengah Junction where the junction point between the JRL's Western & Eastern routes is located. Track laying works here have advanced over the past quarter, with sleepers and rails laid out on the viaduct deck. Casting works for the track bed were underway.

25 January 2025 - Completed viaduct decking under contract J102 awaiting track installation
works.

8 March 2025 - Sleeper installation works in progress along the completed viaduct sections
under contract J102.

8 March 2025 - Rails in place along the West Coast-bound track of the viaduct.

23 March 2025 - A view of the ongoing trackworks at Tengah Junction seen from afar.

Overall, contract J102 has made some great strides in the construction of the JRL's viaducts and stations through Q1 of 2025. Further work lies ahead till the line can be considered substantially completed and the Land Transport Authority able to come on board for trial and acceptance testing of the various subsystems as part of the line's commissioning.

This post will also be available on Instagram & Facebook on 7 April 2025.