Japanese construction firm Penta-Ocean Construction has been awarded a S$932.8m ($697m) civil contract for the construction of the Johor Bahru – Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link.
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) of Singapore has awarded the contract, which involves the construction of the RTS Link Woodlands North station, tunnels and the Customs, Immigration, and Quarantine (CIQ) building in Singapore.
The Johor Bahru–Singapore RTS is a rail shuttle service between the Singapore terminus at Woodlands North station and the Malaysia terminus at Bukit Chagar station in Johor Bahru.
The CIQ facilities will be co-located at Woodlands North and Bukit Chagar stations to enhance travelling experience for the passengers.
The construction works on the project is expected to start in the first quarter of next year and the passenger services expected to begin in the end of 2026.
Once fully operational, the RTS Link is estimated to support a peak capacity of nearly 10,000 passengers an hour in each direction.
It will also help to improve connectivity between Singapore and Johor Bahru while reducing the congestion along the Causeway.
The contract secured by Penta-Ocean is the first of two civil contracts to be awarded for the construction of the RTS Link.
To be awarded in the first quarter of next year, the second contract will involve the construction of the RTS Link viaduct.
Additionally, Penta-Ocean has worked on several infrastructure and building projects in Singapore.
At present, it is building the Bright Hill and Orchard stations on the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) and has previously worked on the TEL Woodlands North station as well as the Downtown Line’s Bendemeer station.
