The joke about the inaccessibility of Nanyang Technological University (NTU) has probably been a long-running one, and with good reason.
In most Singaporeans’ impression, the Jurong area is probably an inaccessible area that they would only go to once in a blue moon.
For all those future NTU students, chin up—things are starting to look better and not as inaccessible as before.
New stations for the JRL
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) announced on 12 May the awarding of a contract to China Harbour (Singapore) Engineering Company for $241 million.
The contract is for the construction of two more stations on the Jurong Region Line (JRL). The construction of the two stations, as well as the JRL, is expected to shorten travel time.
I can almost hear those who have work or school in the Jurong area (*cough* NTU students *cough*) cry from relief.
Unfortunately, you will have to wait a little more.
The two stations—Enterprise station (JS9) and Tukang station (JS10)—are expected to open eight years later in 2029.
So it’s for your kids instead of for you.
Accordion to Singapore LTA, the contract also includes a 1.5km viaduct between the two stations, over Jurong Central Park and Boon Lay.
China Harbour (Singapore) Engineering Company has been operating in Singapore for more than 35 years. The firm, also responsible for the construction of Siglap station on the upcoming Thomson-East Coast Line, has also previously completed rail projects in Macau and Thailand.
The JRL Project
The JRL project was first announced by LTA in January 2013, with the purpose of improving connectivity and accessibility in the western area of Singapore.
According to the LTA, the completion of the JRL will bring 60,000 more households within a 10-minute walking distance from a train station. Travel times within the west part of Singapore will also shorten, with the current 50 minutes needed to travel from Choa Chu Kang Avenue 4 to the Jurong industrial area expected to be reduced to just 25 minutes.
The seventh of Singapore’s MRT lines, the JRL will serve five main areas in the west: NTU, Jurong Industrial Estate, Boon Lay, Choa Chu Kang, and Jurong East. The JRL is a 24km long line that is expected to have 24 stations, with three interchanges that connect it to the rest of Singapore’s MRT lines. These three stations are the Choa Chu Kang, Boon Lay, and Jurong East stations (oh, yeah, interchanges that are already very crowded during peak hours).
It has also been revealed that the line will be fully overground—phew. We wouldn’t want another green area to be disturbed for the construction of an MRT line, now would we?
The construction of four other stations on the JRL is also set to begin by June, namely: Nanyang Gateway station (JW3), Nanyang Crescent station (JW4), Jurong Hill station (JS11) and Jurong Pier station (JS12).
Project delayed by COVID-19
The JRL was originally set to open by 2026.
However, like everything else, it was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. LTA explained that the shortage of manpower and disruption of the supply chain were some of the COVID-19 induced factors which contributed to the delay of the project.
So, which do you think would come earlier: arrival of aliens to the planet Earth, or the completion of the JRL?
Featured Image: LTA
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