Maxwell Diverts

The diaphragm wall construction progresses to the next phase following the diversion of South Bridge Road & Neil Road last month.

Diversion of South Bridge Road (implemented on Nov 22)

Outram Park D-walls (II)

Works on the diaphragm wall and bored pile continues at the Outram Park station and linkway. Excavation and shoring works have also commenced at both launch shafts. The 3rd project information center for the Thomson-East Coast Line's civil team 4 has opened to public at the project office here.

Piling at Havelock (V)

Piling works continue at the Havelock station. Excavation is ongoing for the launching shaft for the rectangular TBM as well as the adjacent entrance E. Preparations are underway for the realignment of Havelock Road which will be implemented around February.

Excavation of the launch shaft and entrance E

Great World D-walls (V)

Construction of the diaphragm wall is nearing completion at the Great World station. Both launch shafts have commenced excavation and shoring works, and Herrenknecht's slurry treatment plant is being assembled for the mix-ground tunnel drive to Havelock.

Commencement of excavation at the north and south launch shafts

Orchard D-walls (IV)

A part of the Overseas Family School has completed demolishment works and earthworks and installation of bentonite silos are being done in preparations for the commencement of the diaphragm wall construction. Special care will be taken during the construction to minimize the movement of the existing NSL bored tunnels which come inches in proximity to the proposed cut and cover tunnel.

Casting works are being carried out for the slab over the launch shaft and northern section of the station box, which will employ a top-down construction method. The diaphragm wall construction continues at the southern end of the station box.

Demolishment of OFS for the construction of the cut and cover tunnel

Orchard Boulevard D-walls (IV)

D-walling works progresses at the Orchard Boulevard station.

Piling at Napier (IV)

The second traffic diversion has taken place last month. The junction with Cluny Road has been shifted towards Gleneagles Hospital for the secant bored pile works beneath the former road. The third traffic diversion, which should be prepared by the next quarter, will see the major realignment of the city-bound carriageway along the S-bend.

The launch shaft has completed excavation works and the base slab has been cast.

Stevens D-walls (III)

D-walling works continue at the Stevens station, with a partial realignment of the northbound carriageway in November for the construction of the diaphragm wall in the center of the road. Piling works continue for the pipe jacking machine launching shaft at SCGS.

Over at the Mount Pleasant launch shaft, the Changi-bound TBM has completed assembly within the shaft and is likely in the midst of finalizing the electrical components - resulting in a delay faced by its sister machines at T208. The Woodlands-bound TBM is in the process of assembly at the completed Dalvey launch shaft.

Lowering of the NFM slurry TBM at the Dalvey Launch Shaft - December 21

Piling at Mount Pleasant (V)

The secant bored pile retaining system at Mount Pleasant is almost completed and excavation works will commence from the next quarter onward. The herrenknecht slurry TBM has arrived at the site in preparations of the tunnelling works toward Caldecott.

Arrival of the Herrenknecht mixshield segments at the launch shaft accompanied with an assembled portal crane

Caldecott Excavation (III)

Excavation works are nearly completed at the Caldecott Station. 6 layers of struts have been installed across the span of the station. Similarly on the opposite end of Toa Payoh West, the southern section of the cripple siding tunnel has almost reached the formation level and a gantry crane has been installed to facilitate the remaining muck removal and subsequent mining works.

Upper Thomson D-walls (III)

The diaphragm wall along the north wall has completed and the 2nd stage of traffic diversion is being implemented in phases, after which the d-walling works would continue along the center of the road. The road realignments are facilitated in tandem with the phase-by-phase construction of the new canal, which will sit on the roof of the Upper Thomson station box.

Piling at Bright Hill (V)

Piling works for the launch shafts and cut and cover tunnels have completed and the team is preparing for the commencement of excavation. Sin Ming Walk was realigned last month to facilitate the remaining SBP works along the station box. Piling works have also commenced on entrances C and D at the front facade of block 402 and 403.

A secondary storage site has been created beside the site office along the Bishan-AMK park, where 1 of the 4 Kawasaki TBMs for the project have been delivered.

Completed SBP at the north C&C tunnel, casting of capping beam and S1 installation works in preparation for excavation

Mayflower Excavation

Excavation works have started at the Mayflower station.

Lentor Excavation (II)

Excavation to the basement roof slab of the Lentor station has completed and RC works are currently prepared for the subsequent concreting. The zone 1A section that had been concreted in September has been de-strut and backfilled, which made way for a minor realignment of Lentor Loop for the remaining d-walling works to be facilitated north.

Excavation of the launch shaft has completed and the RC works for the base slab is being carried out. The pre-assembled gantry beam is present at the portal surface. Phase 1 of the subway link beneath Yio Chu Kang Road has been backfilled and the sheet piles are currently being extracted.

The project team has begun preparations for the impending second realignment of this intersection.

Aerial view of Lentor Station

Tagore Cast

Excavation at the Tagore cut and cover tunnel has completed and the base slab has been concreted between GL5-7. Excavation of the tunnels between TGR and LTR are progressing. The Woodlands bound tunnel is now at ring 99 (12% completed). The TBM boring the Changi bound tunnel is experiencing problematic ground conditions over the past month, and regular interventions are being carried out to unclog the cutters (ring 60, 7% completed)

TBM B is in the process of assembly works at the second launch shaft and tunnelling works to Springleaf for the Woodlands Bound tunnel should start by January.

Assembly works for TBM B

Springleaf D-walls & Piles (III)

The final D-wall panel for the Springleaf station was completed this week. Bored pile works and the deep cement mixing ground improvement activities continue across the station footprint, and the breakthrough point of the TBM drives from Tagore. Excavation works for the station will start around February after all ground improvement works have completed.

Meanwhile, excavation works have commenced along the service corridors for the ventilation shafts beneath the road decking, as well as entrance C.

Completion of the diaphragm wall at Springleaf station (December 2015)

T207 - TBM Assembly

Both EPB machines at the Springleaf launch shaft have been lowered down. The Woodlands Bound TBM is leading in the assembly works and is expected to launch first by February. 2 gantry cranes have been installed over the launch shaft. Similarly at the SBAB launch shaft, tunnelling works are scheduled to commence soon.

Excavation at the RTS Facility Building is almost completed. Ground improvement works continue at the cross passage locations between the SPL-RTS tunnel route.

Lowering of the bearing of the Changi Bound TBM on Dec 4 (T208 site office)

Mandai Depot & T206 (II)

Tunnelling works on the mainline tunnels between LS2 and WDL are progressing well. S-893 has successfully completed the 3-week long installation of the backup gantries during the transition from the initial to main drive, and has now advanced over 70 rings. S-894 has advanced 11 rings from the launch shaft. A gantry crane has been installed over the ES1/LS1 prior to the lowering of the EPB TBM last month. The backup gantries site beneath the portal crane over the shaft, while the machine is being assembled beneath.

The entire SBAB C&C structure has reached the formation level and casting works are underway to cast the base slab. The second of STEC'S EPB pre-assembled machine has been delivered to the launch shaft and will likely commence the first drive along the reception tunnels judging from the soil investigation and preparatory works along the reception tunnel route.

The T206 team recently celebrated their 2 million accident free man-hours.

Portal crane and backup gantries in preparations of tunnelling works at LS1

Woodlands South Cast

The partial basement roof slab of the Woodlands South station is almost completed. Backfilling is underway near the junction of drive 16 around block 542 and 588. The section of roof slab near block 541 is still being prepared to be cast. Following which, we can expect a realignment of Avenue 1 for the remaining permanent top-down construction phase to be carried out.

Preparations for the realignment of Avenue 1 can be expected by the first quarter of 2016.

Woodlands South Station

Woodlands Excavation (II)

Excavation works have commenced across the station box. Removal of the top soil reveals a coarse ground conditions at a shallow formation. The rock head of the Bukit Timah Granite is extremely high around the site and extensive rock blasting can be expected throughout the course of the excavation works over the next year.

The previously-excavated section of the crossover tunnel has now been decked over in accommodation of the impending traffic realignment of the Avenue 2/5 junction. The remaining half of the crossover tunnel will then be constructed after the diversion has taken place.

The temporary bus interchange is almost ready and on track to open around January.

T203, Woodlands Excavation works

Woodlands North - TBM Launch

The TBM launching ceremony at the Woodlands North site was held today. The ceremony was celebrated on Saturday by Penta Ocean and the LTA ahead of the commencement of excavation works by the Changi Bound TBM on Monday. The TBMs here will launch with the full ancillary equipment pre-installed, most notably including the backup gantries. 

Extremely seldom do the space and site conditions permits for such convenience, and would usually require the adjacent cut-and-cover structure to be excavated to the equivalent formation level. However the uniqueness of the terrain at the Woodlands North site grants the complete assembly of the machine prior to launching.

Piling works continue at the station. Construction of a new sewer mains is also taking place at the north end of the site along Admiralty Road West, and will run alongside the length of the station box. Ground improvement works continue along the tunnel route at the diverted Woodlands Dr 91, outside Republic Polytechnic.

Launch of the first 2 Kawasaki Slurry TBMs

T202 TBM launching ceremony (Nov 28) 

November Tunnel Progress

TEL 1/2 Tunnel Chart, November 2015

Contract T206

The first Earth Pressure Balance TBM for the Thomson-East Coast Line was lowered down into the Launch Shaft 1 last night. Manufactured by STEC, the EPB machine has commenced assembly works within the launch shaft and will do its first drive along the Reception Tunnel 3 (RT3) towards Mandai Depot. Tunnelling works should commence in January 2016.

Ring progress as of November 16,

S-893 - Changi Bound Tunnel: Ring 58 (9% completed) - Transitioning to main drive & installation of backup gantries

S-894 - Woodlands Bound Tunnel: Ring 11 (2% completed)

Ring progress as of November 29,

S-893 - Changi Bound Tunnel: Ring 70 (12% completed) - Transitioning to main drive & installation of backup gantries

S-894 - Woodlands Bound Tunnel: Ring 11 (2% completed)

Hoisting of the front shield (Nov 22) - Photo Cr: Ramalingam Rama

October Tunnel Progress

TEL1/2 Tunnel Chart, October 2015

Contract T206

Excavation of the Changi Bound tunnel by S-893 commenced at the LS2 last month. 15 rings have been erected as of October 12, and 54 rings built as of October 25 (9% completed, ~ 3 rings/day). At the present advance rate, the estimated breakthrough for S-893 is slated around June 2016.

S-894 will commence excavation on the Woodlands Bound tunnel soon.

The T206 project utilizes the steel fibre reinforced concrete (SFRC) segments, a special type of tunnel lining which uses less steel, however is more durable and crack resistant. The segments were previously trialed on the C933 Downtown Line project and the LTA has extended the use of these segments along a 10km stretch of tunnels under the T206 & T207 projects of the Thomson-East Coast Line. The SFRC lining consists of 7+1 segments instead of the usual 5+1. The tunnel lining segments for T206 are currently being supplied by Kimlun in Malaysia.

Progress of S-893 on the Changi Bound tunnel between LS2 to Woodlands (October 24)

Gardens By The Bay D-walls (IV)

Works on the diaphragm wall at the Gardens By The Bay station is nearing completion and excavation works should commence by early next year. A portion of the launch shaft has been partially excavated and shored in preparations for the decking to accommodate the upcoming diversion of Marina Gardens Drive.

The GBME retrieval shaft site across the channel has been hoarded up and a grab is on site to construct the d-wall panels. Ground improvement works continue along the stretch of tunnel route near Entrance C.

Preparations to divert Marina Gardens Drive

Piling at Marina South (II)

Piling works have started at the cut and cover tunnel where the deep soil mixing activities have presumably been completed. Following the realignment of Central Boulevard, the DCM rigs have been re-positioned towards the north over the bored tunnel alignment for the ground improvement works ahead of the TBM drive. Piling and ground improvement works continue at the Marina South station.

Boring Machine Collapse at Bright Hill

One of the boring machines at the T211 Bright Hill site collapsed earlier this afternoon. The collapse pierces through a portion of the gate 6 hoarding and protrudes slightly out onto the pavement. No injuries are reported.

Marina Bay D-walls (IV)

D-walling and ground improvement works continues at the Marina Bay station. The launch shaft seems to have completed excavation works and seems to be in the midst of preparation for the impending handover to T225. A separate shaft to the south is currently being excavated for the future mining of the linkway between TEL and NSL station, beneath the existing NSL and CCL tunnels, which will connect between this shaft and the TBM launch shaft.

Shenton Way D-walls (III)

The diaphragm wall for the Shenton Way station is nearly completed and excavation works are slated to commence by the beginning of next year. Grouting is taking place across the station box. The diversion of the monsoon drain across the central linear park has also been completed.

The tunnel drives for this project have been altered from the initial A/E consultant specifications. Each TBM will now complete the respective upper and lower drives between 2 stations as opposed to completing the tunnels to Maxwell first, before relaunching both machines at Marina Bay.

Marina Bay - Shenton Way Tunnels

Excavation of the launch shaft at Marina Bay is completed and the first STEC EPB TBM is slated to arrive at the site upon handover from Taisei around the first quarter of 2016. Mining of the lower Woodlands bound tunnel should commence by the 2nd quarter thereafter. As of now, ground improvement works continue to take place along the tunnel route beside the Marina One project. Updates on the launch shaft at Marina Bay can be found here.

Shenton Way - Maxwell Tunnels

A section of McCallum St between Boon Tat Link and Robinson Road was closed on September 6 as the project team continues the advanced preparatory works ahead of the TBM launch. An access shaft will be constructed beneath the road to facilitate protection works to the adjacent operational EWL tunnels beneath Robinson Road. The road will reopen by the 4th quarter of 2016 - around the time when the second TBM is expected to launch.

Maxwell D-walls (IV)

Works on the diaphragm wall continues at the Maxwell Station. Preparations for the first diversion of South Bridge Road & Neil Road is underway and should be implemented by month end.

Outram Park Diverts

Several realignments along Eu Tong Sen St and New Bridge Road have been implemented at the Outram Park station site following the relocation of the ERP gantry. The slip road from Outram Road has been diverted beneath the roof of the NEL entrance to allow piling works to take place for the new interchange paid linkways. A realignment along the CTE bound Outram Road is currently being prepared as well.

Pearls Centre have been vacated by the last quarter, and removal of the exterior cladding have commenced under the first phase of the demolishment works. Works on the diaphragm wall continues for the Outram Park station.

Diversion of Eu Tong Sen St & New Bridge Road and upcoming diversion being prepared along Outram Road

Piling at Havelock (IV)

Piling works continues at the Havelock station. The gantry crane has been assembled at the site of the rectangular TBM launch shaft, and on-site casting of the RC ring segments are being carried out. The acoustic screen in front of the Tan Boon Liat building has been completed, and a road realignment to push the carriageways further to the right is being prepared.

Great World D-walls (IV)

Construction of the diaphragm wall at the Great World station has been ongoing for a year now. The completed d-wall of the south launch shaft is visible and excavation should commence soon.

Orchard D-walls (III)

The first traffic diversion for T219 was implemented along Orchard Boulevard last month. The realigned road makes way for the construction of the shaft which will oversee the box jacking construction of the linkways between the existing NSL and the new station.

The 2 international schools have moved out by the start of the 3rd quarter, and preparations for the demolishment works have commenced for the future cut and cover tunnel site. The diaphragm wall of the TBM launch shaft seems to have been completed and excavation works should commence by year end.

T219 Orchard Station

Orchard Boulevard D-walls (III)

Trenching of the Diaphragm Wall & boring works for the bored piles and king posts continue following the diversion of the slip road.

Piling at Napier (III)

Piling works continues along the center perimeter of the Napier station following the traffic diversion in July. Excavation of the launch shaft is ongoing.

Excavation of the launch shaft

Stevens D-walls (II)

Excavation of the Dalvey launch shaft is now midway completed. The slurry treatment plant is in the midst of installation beside the shaft. D-walling and piling works continues at the Stevens station. Updates for the launch shaft at Mount Pleasant can be found here.

Excavation and grouting at the Dalvey launch shaft

Haze Contingency Measures

In light of the recent deterioration of the haze conditions across the country, preventive actions have been stepped up to protect the welfare and safety of the workers exposed to the hazardous outdoor conditions. The T206 Launch Shaft site was visited by the media yesterday afternoon to find out more about the numerous precautionary measures that have been implemented at the site.

NFM TBM - Factory Acceptance (III)

Another slurry machine has been completed at NFM's Shenyang factory for Daewoo's T216 project.

NFM Slurry TBM for T216

Piling at Mount Pleasant (IV)

Piling works continue for the Mount Pleasant station. The launch shaft for T215 has been excavated down to the S4 layer and has almost reached the formation level.

The Mount Pleasant site is unique to see 2 different contracts handling the mixed-ground bored tunnel works on either ends with their dedicated launch shafts and slurry TBMs, the first such dividend in the scope of works for the MRT construction. 2 separate STPs are in the midst of assembly alongside each other north of the site as a result.

Caldecott Excavation (II)

Deep excavation works continues at the Thomson Cripple Siding. Installation of struts have almost reached across the entire length of the Caldecott station box.

Rock has been interfaced at this stage of the excavation, and expertise have been called in with the use of special detonators to mitigate the vibration and minimize ground disturbance to the neighbouring skyscrapers, and most importantly the adjacent operational Circle Line.

T213 Caldecott

Upper Thomson D-walls (II)

Trenching of the diaphragm wall as well as boring works for the king posts continues at the Upper Thomson Station. The new canal is currently being constructed. Excavation works at the Upper Thomson Launch Shaft is halfway completed and grouting is taking place at the ends of the launch shaft ahead of the projected TBM launch early next year. The slurry treatment plant is also being assembled.

Piling at Bright Hill (IV)

Piling together with sewer diversion works continue at the Bright Hill Station.

A&A works for POB between BRH and UTS

The project team has commenced preliminary works for the alternation of the POB along Upper Thomson Road at Windsor Park. A new set of staircase will be built for the bridge, with the former to be demolished to make way for the bored tunnels.

Replacement POB between BRH and MFL

Works for the replacement POB at AMK Avenue 3 are ongoing. No structures have surfaced yet.

Bright Hill Station

Piling at Mayflower (V)

Piling works are entering its final phase at the Mayflower station. The stage 3B traffic diversion was implemented at the site last Saturday to make way for the construction of the remaining bored piles. The diversion will last until the end of the year.

Lentor Cast

Lentor Station will be adopting the top-down construction method. The basement roof slab of Zone 1A was successfully concreted at the start of this month. Timelapse of the rebar installation throughout the past month is included below.

Excavation works for the launch shaft has reached the S3 layer and is nearly completed. The slurry treatment plant is also in the midst of assembly works.

Lentor Station

Tagore Excavation

Excavation works at the Tagore C&C tunnel site is nearing completion. The north launch shaft is completed as well and sees the recent installation of the second gantry crane at the site. The third and final TBM should arrive by this month and tunnelling works towards Springleaf could commence by year end.

Precast lining segments are visible at the south launch shaft facilitating the recent commencement of tunnelling works towards Lentor. The second TBM is believed to still be undergoing alterations to the internal electrical components and should commence mining within the next few days.

Springleaf D-walls & Piles (II)

Springleaf sees the continual trenching and construction of the diaphragm wall and bored piles forming the earth retaining system, in addition to deep soil mixing activities. Excavation works have commenced at the north launch shaft which will be handed over to the T207 project. Excavation has reached the S3 layer and the launch shaft should be handed over by year end.

Excavation of the launch shaft at Springleaf station

T207 Excavation

Excavation works commenced at the RTS Facility Building site last month. At the escape shaft site, excavation has reached the formation level and the adit tunnel connecting the ES to the future mainline tunnels are being excavated, way in advance of the tunnel drive.

Ground Improvement Works

Shimizu have commenced ground improvement works above CP5 and CP6 along Mandai Road (near Meng Suan Road) ahead of the commencement of tunnelling between Springleaf and the RTS FB. Ground improvement works by the contractor have also started beside the Springleaf launch shaft.

Excavation at the RTS Facility Building

JTSC TBM - Factory Acceptance

The JTSC TBMs for the T207 project were signed off at the factory acceptance test held north of Suzhou earlier this week. 4 EPB machines were procured by Shimizu for a combined tunnel drive of approximately 6km in length. 2 of these machines will execute the single longest tunnel drive along the Thomson Line between Springleaf Station and the RTS facility building, stretching 2km.

Tunnelling works should commence around the 2nd quarter of 2016.

Scaled model of the T207 JTSC EPBMs

Factory Acceptance Test (Cr: Leong Wei Loon)