The Land Transport Authority (LTA) of Singapore has awarded the $448.5m (S$604m) civil contract to South Korean construction company Samsung C&T for the first phase of the Cross Island Line (CRL).
Under the contract, the company will be responsible for the design and construction of Hougang interchange station and tunnels for the CRL.
The project also involves addition and alteration works to the existing Hougang station along the North East Line (NEL).
CRL is Singapore’s eighth MRT line and will serve the existing and future developments in the eastern, western, and north-eastern corridors connecting major hubs, including Jurong Lake District, Punggol Digital District and Changi region.
The 29km long Cross Island Line Phase-1 (CRL1) comprises 12 stations from Aviation Park to Bright Hill.
It will serve the residential and industrial areas, including Loyang, Tampines, Pasir Ris, Defu, Hougang, Serangoon North and Ang Mo Kio.
The CRL1 is expected to benefit more than 100,000 households, while common recreational spaces including Changi Beach Park and Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park will also be more accessible by public transport.
Construction on the CRL Hougang station is expected to commence in the fourth quarter of this year and is planned to be completed in 2030.
The South Korean construction company is now involved in the construction of Caldecott and Marine Parade stations on the Thomson-East Coast Line, Xilin station on the Downtown Line 3 (DTL3) Extension and some stretches of tunnels along the North-South Corridor.
Previously, it has also completed construction of Hougang and Kovan stations along NEL, and Expo and Upper Changi stations along DTL3.