Monday 10 September 2018

Stevens - TBM 2 Completes

Excavation works for the Woodlands bound tunnel from Mount Pleasant to Stevens completed today with the docking of TBM 2 outside the d-wall of the station. The NFM slurry machine was launched in September 2016, having spent the last 2 years completing the 1.44km tunnel drive. The final month of tunnelling works proceeded cautiously between the stacked DTL tunnels, as well as beneath the Wayang Satu Flyover and Bukit Timah Canal.

Its sister machine is approximately 100m behind and is similarly scheduled to dock at the station next month.


TEL3 Tunnel Chart - September 2018
Docking of TBM 2 (left) at the D-wall of Stevens Station (Photo: Oop Pocca)

Friday 17 August 2018

LTA Update (Q2 2018)

T205 Woodlands South Station. Escalators installed between the paid concourse down to the platform level.

Thursday 21 June 2018

Outram Park - Tunnelling Completes

Tunnelling works for the T222 project have completed following the breakthrough of the third drive (TBM 1 refurbished) along the Woodlands Bound tunnel on Apr 27 and the fourth drive (TBM 2 refurbished) along the Changi Bound tunnel on Jun 21 between Outram Park and Havelock Station (800m).

This is the final tunnel to be completed under the C4 team, and the second final project along the overall line to complete bored tunnel excavation works.


Breakthrough of the NFM EPBM at Havelock Station, Woodlands Bound (April 27, Photo: Ram)

Thursday 7 June 2018

Shenton Way - Tunnelling Completes

Bored tunnel works for the T225 project completed in the early hours of today with the docking of TBM 2 at Maxwell station. Tunnelling works were unique in this project due to the stacked configuration of the 2 launch shafts, one of which is within the permanent structure of the station. Geological constraints were also experienced beneath McCallum St resulting in prolonged delays and the eventual re-sequencing of the TBM drives.

T225 is the 3rd last team to complete tunnelling works for the line, ahead of T222 later this month and subsequently T216 in Q4.


Upper/Changi Bound tunnel towards Maxwell completed by TBM 2

Sunday 3 June 2018

Final TBM Assembly

Assembly works for the final TBM for the Thomson Line (C1-C4) are in progress at the Dalvey Launch Shaft for the 300m Woodlands bound tunnel towards Stevens Station. The said TBM is a refurbished STEC Earth Pressure Balance machine previously used on the line which had been additionally procured by the project team in an effort to achieve the crucial basic structural completion for TEL3 by the end of the year. The 5th machine supersedes the intended second drive of the NFM TBM 3, which is currently still excavating the Woodlands Bound tunnel towards Napier.

The choice of using an EPBM as opposed to the existing Slurry TBMs is likely due to the constraints for the Slurry Treatment Plant, which was designed to only accommodate concurrent tunnelling works for TBM 3 and 4. Favorable geological data obtained from the previous excavation of the parallel Changi bound tunnel likely bolstered the decision of using an EPB shield.

The TBM was lowered down in the second week of May and is scheduled to commence mining next month.


Internal assembly of TBM 5 being executed at Dalvey LS
TEL3 Tunnel Progress, June 2018

Wednesday 2 May 2018

Restructuring of Updates

The routine quarterly aerial photography updates that formed the main content eminent with the construction blog will cease to continue. The decision has been mutually agreed upon with the Land Transport Authority in early April due to regulatory issues with associated government agencies. The civil & structural completion of majority of the stations and tunnels at this stage, which the blog has intended to fulfill, has been factored into this decision as well.

The corporate communications group in LTA has provided great correspondence and extended continuous support over the last 2 years, complementing the quarterly updates with internal photographs, and reciprocating information with the project teams on the ground. This will continue in a restructured consolidated quarterly update of the 25 contracts on the blog, intended to be posted at the end of the month following each Quarter. In addition to the aforementioned, a greater detail to the progress documentation will be followed up for 2 key projects along the line - T216 and T225.

Monday 16 April 2018

TEL2 Tunnelling Completes

Bored tunnel works for Stage 2 of the line completed with the breakthrough of TBM 2 last Thursday, completing the Changi Bound tunnel between ULS and Caldecott Station. The TBM is the last of 23 TBMs along the northern half of the original Thomson Line to dock. 

Dismantling of the TBM, cross passage, FSC and bracket installation works will proceed within the next quarter prior to reinstatement of the ULS site by year end.


Completion of bored tunnel excavation works for TEL1 and TEL2
Breakthrough of the T212 JTSC TBM 2 at Caldecott Station on April 12 (Changi Bound)

Saturday 14 April 2018

Marina South - Tunnelling Completes

Tunnelling works for the T227 project have completed, with the breakthrough of the Changi bound tunnel between Marina South and Marina Bay achieved today following the relaunch of the TBM in January. The average advancement rate for the second drive was significantly high at around 7 rings/day.


Breakthrough of CREG TBM at Marina Bay Station on April 14, completing the EPBM's second and final 750m Changi bound tunnel drive between both stations

Saturday 31 March 2018

Havelock Cast

Structural works are in progress within the station.


Havelock Site

Great World - Tunnelling Completes

RC works are in progress at the station and entrances, with pipe jacking works for the subway beneath Kim Seng Road underway. Both Changi-bound tunnels to Havelock and Orchard have completed, wrapping up tunnelling works for the project.


Breakthrough of Herrenknecht S-946 at Havelock Station on March 27, completing the Mixshield's second and final 500m Changi bound tunnel drive between both stations (Photo: Padraig Higgins, HK)

Friday 30 March 2018

Orchard Cast (VI)

Structural works for the station, entrance and ventilation structures progresses at the site, with A&A works commencing at the North South Line and ION substructures. Backfilling and site clearing works are taking place around the cut and cover tunnel site in preparations for the SWC staging ground.


Orchard Station

Orchard Boulevard Cast (V)

RC works for the internal structure progresses at the station. Bored piling works are taking place at entrance B.


Orchard Boulevard Station

Napier Cast

The bottom-up structural works have commenced at the Napier station.


Casting of the station base slab in December (Photo: LTA)

Tuesday 20 March 2018

Stevens Excavation

Excavation works for the station have reached the mezzanine level and are proceeding down to the platform level. The concourse slab has been fully cast, with RC works taking place at the mezzanine slab and mezzanine service slab. Preliminary works have started for entrance E at the Downtown Line structure which will form the basement 1 link to the TEL concourse.


Stevens Station

Sunday 18 March 2018

Mount Pleasant - Basic Structure Completion

The station achieved the basic structure completion at the beginning of the year, with backfilling works done up. RC works for the entrance and ventilation structures are progressing at ground level. 

A completed portion of the staging ground has been hoarded up in preparation for partial handover to T250. The remaining uncompleted portion around launch shaft 9 will be handed over following the complete dismantling of the TBM, backfilling and casting of the trackwork access opening.


Backfilled compacted hardcores over the completed station structure

Saturday 17 March 2018

Caldecott - Basic Structure Completion

The station has achieved completion of the basic structure ahead of schedule with the temporary supports dismantled. Fitting works will begin within the station. Casting of the entrances and ventilation structures are progressing at ground level, with backfilling works at the cripple siding cut and cover tunnel sites nearly completed.


T213 Caldecott Site

Thursday 15 March 2018

Upper Thomson Cast (III)

Excavation works by TBM 3 concluded earlier this week, completing the 960-ring Woodlands Bound tunnel between the Upper Thomson Launch Shaft and Caldecott Station. TBM 2 will similarly arrive in a month's time, thereafter concluding tunnelling works for the first 2 stages of the line.

Casting of the station, entrances and ventilation structures are progressing, with basic structure of the station targeted to be achieved after the next quarter.


Completion of the 1.35km Woodlands bound tunnel bored by TBM 3 between ULS and Caldecott Station
Breakthrough of the Japanese TBM at Caldecott Station on March 12, 2018, concluding 16 months of tunnelling works

Wednesday 14 March 2018

Bright Hill Cast (III)

Structural works continue at the station, entrances and launch shafts. The station should achieve the basic structure by the next quarter.


Bright Hill

Tuesday 13 March 2018

Mayflower Fit-Out

Backfilling and fitting works are in progress at the station. RC works for all entrances have completed to ground level, and RC works on the ventilation superstructures are in progress.


Mayflower Site

Monday 12 March 2018

Lentor - Basic Structure Completion

Lentor Station achieved the BSC at the beginning of the year, with fit-out and painting works commencing. Structural works continue at the entrances. Dismantling of the TBMs have completed, and the first stage concrete & tunnel bracket installation works are ongoing between 5XO and Mayflower.


5XO site

Sunday 11 March 2018

Tagore Trackworks

CTCI has taken full possession of the staging ground from T208 since the beginning of the year. 2 gantry cranes have been assembled at the site, with track-laying equipment being brought in ahead of the commencement of trackworks towards Lentor Station.


T250 site mobilization activity at Tagore

Saturday 10 March 2018

Springleaf Backfill

Filling and compaction works are taking place over the completed structure of the station. Construction of the permanent utilities and carriageway of Upper Thomson Road are concurrently taking place in preparations for the Stage 3 traffic realignment scheme. Construction of entrance B2 has started.


Springleaf Station

Thursday 8 March 2018

Facility Building Fit-Out (II)

Architectural and M&E works continue at the facility building and escape shaft. Trackworks are proceeding towards Springleaf Station from the facility building.


RTS Facility Building

Tuesday 6 March 2018

Launch Shafts Backfill

The Mandai Depot is nearing completion with the final structural steel works completed. Fit-out and trackworks continue, with the commencement of landscaping, fencing and driveway works since the beginning of the year. The delivery of the first passenger train to the depot is scheduled in June.

Backfilling works for LS2 and the Sembawang Airbase C&C tunnel site, as well as casting of the escape shaft 1 structure have completed to ground level. Demobilization of the T206 sites are underway.


Mandai Depot

Monday 5 March 2018

Woodlands South - Basic Structure Completion

The station achieved full basic structural completion with final portion of roof slab cast at the beginning of the year. The remaining concourse and roof slabs have also been constructed at the temporary access pits. RC structural works for entrance B & D have completed, and trackworks have also progressed through the station from SBAB.


Installation of steel lift frame and backfilling of earth around entrance A

Sunday 4 March 2018

Woodlands - Basic Structure Completion

The final zone of roof slab has been constructed, completing the main structural works at the station. Dismantling of the temporary struts, kingposts, waler beams as well as the striking of falsework are in progress following which the station would achieve the BSC. Structural works for entrance F have also completed to the threshold level - the first among all 5 entrances.


Woodlands Station

Saturday 3 March 2018

Woodlands North Fit-Out

Structure of the north crossover tunnel has been completed. Preparations for the realignment of Admiralty Road West is in progress over the completed structure with implementation due by June. The remaining RC structure for the overrun tunnel will proceed following the road reinstatement. 

RC superstructure works are in progress at the 2 ventilation structures. Structure of entrance D is mostly completed, and fit out works within the station are being carried out.


Woodlands North

Thursday 1 February 2018

February Tunnel Progress

The T215 and T217 projects have successfully completed all tunnelling works this week with the docking of the 2 Herrenknecht Mixshield TBMs at the Caldecott cripple siding tunnel and Napier station respectively. 14 bored tunnel drives remain - bulk of which would be completed in the second quarter of the year.

The next breakthrough will take place at Caldecott by TBM 3 under the T212 project around end Feb/early March. Its sister TBM 2 will subsequently arrive approximately 6 weeks later, concluding the tunnelling works for Stage 2 and TELC2 in April.


TEL1/2 Tunnel Chart (January 2018)