J108 / Tengah Plantation, Tengah Park & Bukit Batok West - A 2024 progress report

We've been on a journey re-looking back at the progress made through the year at the various Jurong Region Line (JRL) contracts. Thus far, we've gone through the phase 1 contracts, which you can view here:

• Contract J101 for Tengah Depot
• Contract J102 for Choa Chu Kang, Choa Chu Kang West & Tengah stations
• Contract J103 for Hong Kah & Corporation stations
• Contract J105 for Jurong West & Bahar Junction stations
• Contract J106 for Boon Lay station
• Contract J107 for Gek Poh & Tawas stations

Having completed the rotation of phase 1 contracts, we now venture into phase 2 territory. These stations will open a year later than their phase 1 counterparts and will serve a separate service on their own, unofficially called the eastern route, which consists of 7 stations. The first contract along this phase is Contract J108, which was awarded to a joint venture between McConnell Dowell & John Holland.

Milestones attained by this contract thus far have included the completion of casting all precast segmental boxes for viaducts, the commencement of roof frame installation works at two (2) stations and the commencement of linkbridges connecting to station exits at one (1) station. Of the phase 2 contracts, this one is slightly ahead of the others. More details after the jump.

J108 - Tengah Plantation, Tengah Park & Bukit Batok West update Q2 2024

An overview of contract J108 stations at Tengah Plantation (top), Tengah Park (middle) and
Bukit Batok West (bottom) as of end-Q2 in June 2024.

Over Q2, contract J108 has seen the stations at Tengah Plantation & Tengah Park continue to take shape. Work at Bukit Batok West has also began to speed up with the structure of the station becoming more visible as more station columns are cast. Viaduct construction work also pushed further into Tengah. while causing some road diversions, ultimately inching towards completion. Other developments were also made in completing the various spans using the launch gantries Rock Steady and Magnificent Mammoth. More information after the jump.

J108 - Tengah Plantation, Tengah Park & Bukit Batok West update Q1 2024

 

18 March 2024 - An aerial view of Tengah Plantation station in end-Q1 2024.

18 March 2024 - An aerial view of Tengah Park station in end-Q1.

18 March 2024 - A view of the Bukit Batok West station site in end-Q1.

Contract J108 is the first of two contracts that cover three stations each - the other being neighbouring contract J109 which we'll be covering in the following post. Over the first three months of the year, work has been chugging along with viaduct spans taking shape and the station buildings slowly being cast. We take a closer look at the three stations under this contract - Tengah Plantation, Tengah Park & Bukit Batok West - in greater detail after the jump.

J108 - Tengah Plantation, Tengah Park & Bukit Batok West update Q3 2023

Stations under contract J108 as on 24 September 2023.

A lot has happened last quarter over at contract J108 which is for the construction of 3 phase two stations at Tengah Plantation, Tengah Park & Bukit Batok West. Also part of the package are viaducts from Tengah Junction, where the line diverges from the western route, up to the interface with contract J109 along the Pan Island Expressway (PIE), south of Bukit Batok town. In order to speed up the updates ahead of the year-end recap that we're in the midst of preparing, we're updating the rest of the line by contract. Head on past the jump for loads of pictures about the progress made over Q3 2023.

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.

J108 - Second launch gantry

 

24 July 2023 - The second launch gantry for contract J108 raised into position south of Tengah
Park station to begin work.
Source: LinkedIn

Yesterday, the second launch gantry for contract J108 was raised into position south of Tengah Park station. The gantry will begin work assembling the viaduct spans for the cripple siding located here. The lifting process utilised 2 mobile crane units that lifted the gantry in a process known as a tandem lift. Once elevated to the desired height, the cranes swung the gantry over to the final position atop the supports and the gantry was locked in place.

The Six Stages to building an elevated MRT line - Preparatory Works (1)

 

We launched our new mini-series last week, a deep dive into the process of building an elevated MRT line which was last seen on the East-West Line when the Tuas West Extension was built. Join us as we explore the first of six distinct stages of bringing an elevated MRT line to life - the preparatory works stage.

J108 - Bukit Batok West year-end update

 

11 December 2022 - A view westwards of the station site.

Bukit Batok West station is the third station to be built under contract J108. Located next to the Pan Island Expressway (PIE), the station has seen slower progress compared to its sister stations Tengah Park and Tengah Plantation. Nonetheless the site has been cleared and piling works have commenced at the station site. A new, temporary ramp is being constructed to allow for the demolition of the existing ramp to facilitate construction works.

J108/J109 - Bukit Batok West update

8 September 2022 - Completed pier crosshead mock up at J108 site.

As works pick up along phase 2 of the Jurong Region Line (JRL), we explore how the site near the Bukit Batok West station has changed over time. With some photos dating back to 2020, the changes are fairly obvious as work has come quite a long way from the initial state of site possession.

JRL2 - Station renders

 

A new render of Bukit Batok West station under contract J108.
Source: LTA & John Holland-McConnell Dowell JV

We hope that you've enjoyed our previous post on the renders of the phase 1 stations of the Jurong Region Line (JRL). We're back with more now, this time for phase 2 which will run towards mega-hub Jurong East and onwards to the Pandan Reservoir.

CNY Special - First viaduct piers for JRL

 

01 February 2022 - Rebar visible above the hoarding for Jurong Region Line's viaduct piers.

We'd like to wish all our readers a Happy & Prosperous Lunar New Year! May each of you be blessed with bountiful fortune in the year of the Tiger. And to all the contractors on the Jurong Region Line (JRL) project, may you all experience good health (and safety) this coming year.

Through the Chinese New Year period, we have been travelling around a fair bit and noticed the first viaduct piers for the line beginning to emerge above the hoarding protecting the worksite.

J108 Construction Update - Q3 2021

25 September 2021 - A view of the route as the line swings in to Tengah estate as seen from Bukit Batok Road.

Phase 2 of the Jurong Region Line (JRL) is the final phase we cover in our update for Quarter 3 of 2021. This phase consists of 4 contracts - J108, J109, J110 and J120 for the construction of various parts of viaducts and stations. Contract J108 was won by John Holland-McConnell Dowell and will connect phase 2 to the rest of the line at phase 1's Tengah interchange station. The contract will involve the construction of 3 stations at Tengah Plantation, Tengah Park & Bukit Batok West.

As this post is rather photo-heavy, we have decided to break the post up according to contract for easier readability. Do look out for our subsequent posts on other sections of the line.

Contract updates - J108 & J111

Artist's impression of Bukit Batok West station
Source: McConnell Dowell

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) awarded Contract J108 for the construction of Tengah Plantation, Tengah Park & Bukit Batok West stations to a joint venture of McConnell Dowell and John Holland last month. This represents the first contract from phase 2 of the Jurong Region Line (JRL) to be awarded.

JRL2 - All contracts released for bid

The Land Transport Authority released the last tender for phase 2 of the Jurong Region Line (JRL) on 31st July 2019 - contract J109 for the design & construction of Toh Guan, Jurong Town Hall and Pandan Reservoir stations, viaducts inclusive. With the release of tender bidding for contract J109, all contracts for phase 2 of the line have been floated for tender.

Pre-construction - Bukit Batok West

Bukit Batok West station is located at the south-western side of Bukit Batok Town, serving the southern portion of the estate. A more appropriate name for the station would be Bukit Batok South, leaving the option open for potential future lines to serve Bukit Batok West further up north.

16 April 2018 - The approximate site of the future Bukit Batok West station before construction begins.

Roads JRL may align with - Jurong East branch

Typical road name sign
Source: SRX

In our previous post, we touched on the location shift of Choa Chu Kang bus interchange to make way for the Jurong Region Line (JRL) station. In this post, we explore the potential roads that the JRL may align with along the Jurong East & West Coast branch.