Singapore 2025

I attended a Land Transport Authority (LTA) briefing on the construction of the Downtown line on 23 Aug 2011 with Aljunied-Hougang Town Council Chairman Sylvia Lim and other senior Town Council staff. This post serves to inform residents of the deliberations of that meeting, which was very professionally conducted by the LTA.

Prior to the meeting in question, my concerns over the construction of the Downtown MRT line in the Eunos ward of Aljunied GRC covered three main areas. Firstly, the level of noise pollution and discomfort likely to be suffered by residents for the next few years especially by residents in two particular HDB blocks are very close to construction activites. Secondly, the envisaged increase in traffic along Bedok Reservoir Road as a result of the closure of a stretch of Kaki Bukit Ave 1. And finally, the presence of any launch shafts with regard to either two stations, especially in view of the recent Maplewoods controversy.

The LTA briefing was divided into two parts. The first part covered details relevant to the future Bedok North MRT station, with the second part devoted to the Kaki Bukit station.

Bedok North Station (formerly known as Bedok Town station)

The underground Bedok North station will be located just infront of Block 620 in the Eunos ward. A stretch of Bedok North Road will be diverted during the construction phase, but will be realigned after works have been completed. A pedestrian overhead bridge will be relocated for this purpose and a canal will be diverted as well. In order to minimise noise pollution, the LTA will be constructing a 10m high noise barrier in front of Block 620. It will remain up throughout the construction of the Bedok North MRT station.

The LTA will oversee the installation of sensitive measuring instruments and equipment at blocks 620, 621 and 708 (Bedok Reservoir-Punggol ward of Aljunied GRC) to ensure the structural integrity of these blocks during the construction of the Bedok North MRT station, and to ensure that safety standards and protocols and not breached.

Piling Works: Jun 2011 to Oct 2012

Excavation Works: Jun 2012 to Feb 2014

Structural Works: Feb 2012 to Oct 2014

Kaki Bukit Station

The underground Kaki Bukit station will be located in front of Block 663, opposite Bedok North Secondary School. The stretch of Kaki Bukit Ave 1 between Jalan Damai and Jalan Tenaga will be closed from 28 Aug 2011 for about five years. It will re-open around 2016, when construction work is complete. In order to minimise noise pollution, the LTA will be constructing a 10m high noise barrier in front of Block 663.

I was concerned about the traffic load on Bedok Reservoir Road as a result of this closure of a stretch of Kaki Bukit Ave 1. The LTA has completed it site surveys and assesses that the impact of this closure can be mitigated. To minimise inconvenience to residents and road-users  on the aforementioned roads, the LTA has also completed widening some parts of Jalan Tenaga, Jalan Damai and Bedok Reservoir Road to accomodate the higher vehicle loads. Both LTA and the Aljunied-Hougang Town Council will continue to monitor this closely.

In addition, the LTA will oversee the installation of sensitive measuring instruments and equipment at blocks 660A, 661, 662, 663 and Bedok North Secondary School  to ensure the structural integrity of these buildings during the construction of the Kaki Bukit MRT station, and to ensure that safety standards and protocols and not breached.

Piling Works: Sep 2011 to Oct 2012

Temporary Retaining System Construction: Oct 2011 to February 2013

Excavation Works: October 2011 to March 2014

Launch Shaft

There will be no launch shafts near the area around the Kaki Bukit MRT station. Launch shafts are necessary for construction near the Bedok North MRT station, but the LTA has assured that these will be a good distance away from residential areas.

Contact Information

In the event, residents wish to make enquiries with the LTA on the Downtown Line construction with regard to the Bedok North or Kaki Bukit stations, here are the important contact numbers as shared by LTA:

Land Transport Authority

Sarinah Bee @ 63961421

Hotline: 1800-2255582

Main Contractor:  Sato Kogyo

Kenix Lee (Public Relations Officer): 97899905

Project Office Hotline: 82843522

On behalf of the Aljunied-Hougang Town Council, I do ask for the patience of residents and we work together with the LTA to deliver this project to residents. You may also contact the Aljunied-Hougang Town Council or myself if you have any clarifications or queries on this project. Thank you.

Useful Links

Information from LTA Website on MRT Downtown Line (see DTL3): http://www.lta.gov.sg/projects/index_proj_dtl.htm