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| Sg Pang Sua mangroves along Sg Kadut Ave during our survey in Dec 2025 |
LTA awards $326m contract for construction of tunnels for DTL extension, starting in Q2 2026
Aqil Hamzah Straits Times Jan 15, 2026
SINGAPORE – The Land Transport Authority (LTA) on Jan 15 awarded a $326 million contract for the second extension of the Downtown Line (DTL), with construction expected to begin in the second quarter of 2026.
Passenger service for the extension, which comprises three northside stations after Bukit Panjang station, will commence in 2035.
The particular contract LTA awarded is for the design and construction of two mainline tunnels, a tunnel connection to Gali Batu Depot, as well as other works at the depot.
Measuring roughly 1km long, the tunnels will be built underneath Sungei Kadut Avenue, Sungei Kadut Way and Woodlands Road, with a depth of up to 21m.
LTA said the tunnels will be built close to the North-South Line (NSL), with the extension to the DTL connecting to the NSL.
When the extension is completed, it will “enhance rail connectivity in the north-western region”, added LTA, shortening travel times for commuters travelling between the north and north-western parts of the island.
The first of the new stations will be located after Bukit Panjang station, along Sungei Kadut Avenue.
The successive station will be the new terminus for the DTL.
Located underground, it will connect to the third new station – an above-ground station serving the NSL. This station will be situated between Yew Tee and Kranji stations.
“It will provide improved access to existing and new growth areas such as Yew Tee and the future Sungei Kadut Eco-District, as well as amenities such as the Rail Corridor and Pang Sua Park Connector,” LTA said.
The contract was awarded to a joint venture between Woh Hup Engineering and Underground Technology Engineering Construction.
Woh Hup Engineering is currently involved in the design and construction of Punggol Interchange and Loyang stations. It is also working on the tunnels for the first phase of the Cross Island Line (CRL) and its extension with Punggol.
Underground Technology Engineering Construction is currently working on the construction of tunnels between Aviation Park station and the Changi East Depot for the CRL.
LTA added that it will work with the contractor to put in place measures to minimise the impact of construction work on nearby stakeholders and infrastructure.
The authority has also conducted an Environmental Impact Assessment and will implement “all the necessary mitigation measures” outlined in the Environmental Monitoring and Management Plan, and will continue its engagement with various stakeholders, including nature groups, throughout the process.
Contracts worth $735m to build MRT stations for DTL extension awarded; work to start in Q2
Straits Times Feb 19, 2026, 07:25 PM
SINGAPORE – Construction on the three stations that will make up the second extension of the Downtown Line (DTL) will begin in the second quarter of 2026, with the two contracts awarded for them totalling around $735 million.
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) on Feb 19 said it awarded one contract to Woh Hup Engineering, and the other to a joint venture between construction firm Samwoh Corporation and the Singapore branch of China Communications Construction Company.
For about $285 million, Woh Hup Engineering will design and build an underground MRT station in Sungei Kadut Avenue, as well as build a vehicular bridge to extend Choa Chu Kang North 7 and a pedestrian bridge over Pang Sua Canal.
The pedestrian bridge will enhance connectivity between Yew Tee, the new station codenamed DE1 and the Rail Corridor, said LTA.
Other projects that Woh Hup Engineering is involved in include tunnelling works for the DTL’s second extension, and the design and construction of Punggol Interchange and Loyang stations on the Cross Island Line (CRL).
It is also working on the tunnels for the first phase of the CRL and its extension to Punggol.
The second contract, worth about $450 million, will see the joint venture build two MRT stations that are connected to one another.
One is the underground station codenamed DE2 on the DTL, while the other is an aboveground station on the North-South Line (NSL), codenamed NS6. The NSL station will be located between Yew Tee and Kranji stations.
Passenger service for the extension is expected to start in 2035.
Some projects that Samwoh Corporation has worked on include the Sentosa Gateway Tunnel and the flyover slip road from Seletar West Link to Seletar Expressway.
China Communications Construction Company is currently involved in the construction of Tampines North, King Albert Park and Clementi stations on the CRL. It is also working on the viaduct and tunnels for the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System Link.
LTA said the construction work on the stations will take place concurrently, adding that earth retaining and stabilising structures will be used “due to expected complex ground conditions in the area”.
Such structures prevent the ground around a worksite from shifting. LTA said the works will take place near the NSL during non-operating hours to minimise any impact on NSL commuters.
The authority said it will work with the contractors to monitor ground stability in real time and put in place measures to ensure work is done safely while having minimal impact on people and infrastructure nearby.
LTA also said it will implement measures to control construction dust and noise during the works, and added that it would provide regular updates to residents and other parties on the progress made.
Once the extension is up and running, it will “shorten travel times for commuters travelling to and from the north and north-western parts of Singapore”.
For instance, travelling from Yew Tee to Chinatown will be 20 minutes faster, from a one-hour journey that involves taking a bus and then the MRT to a trip solely on the MRT.
