The Land Transport Authority (LTA), a statutory board under Singapore's Ministry of Transport, has awarded the final civil contract for the Downtown Line 2 extension (DTL2e), marking the latest phase in expanding the city-state’s rail network.
China Railway Tunnel Group Company (Singapore Branch) secured the contract, valued at approximately S$199m ($154m), for designing and constructing tunnels between the current Bukit Panjang station and the planned DE1 station.
The construction of the twin bored tunnels, each about 1.8km in length, will take place beneath Woodlands Road and run under existing infrastructure, including the Kranji Expressway flyover.
LTA has scheduled construction works for these tunnels to begin in the third quarter of 2026, with passenger operations targeted to start in 2035.
LTA will coordinate tunnel works with relevant agencies and SBS Transit, carrying out sensitive activities during non-operating hours to minimise disruption to existing railway structures and commuters.
Real-time ground stability monitoring and related safety protocols will be implemented throughout construction, and LTA has announced it will provide regular progress updates to nearby residents and stakeholders.
Earlier this year, LTA awarded two other civil contracts for DTL2e. Woh Hup Engineering Pte received the contract for the DE1 station along Sungei Kadut Avenue at around S$285m, which includes constructing a vehicular bridge extending Choa Chu Kang North 7 and a pedestrian link-bridge over Pang Sua Canal.
The second contract was awarded to a joint venture between Samwoh Corporation Pte and China Communications Construction Company (Singapore Branch) for approximately S$450m.
This agreement covers both an underground DE2 interchange station on DTL2e and a new aboveground NS6 station situated between Yew Tee and Kranji stations on the North-South Line (NSL).
Construction of DE1 and NS6/DE2 stations is set to commence in the second quarter of 2026.
These works will use earth retaining and stabilising structures due to challenging ground conditions, such as hard granite, undertaken close to both existing infrastructure and operational rail lines.
LTA has also completed an Environmental Impact Assessment for these sites and will follow mitigation measures outlined in its Environmental Monitoring and Management Plan to control dust, noise, vector control, and ensure safety during construction.
Once DTL2e is complete in 2035, it will comprise three new stations: DE1 after Bukit Panjang, located along Sungei Kadut Avenue; DE2 serving as an underground interchange with NS6 aboveground between Yew Tee and Kranji on the NSL; plus one further station within the extension.
The new section aims to increase connectivity across Singapore’s north-western region by offering alternative travel routes, improving transfers between lines, providing access to areas including Yew Tee and Sungei Kadut Eco-District, and reducing travel times, such as shortening journeys from Yew Tee to Chinatown by up to 20 minutes.
LTA has stated that it will continue updating affected communities as construction progresses in order to manage any potential inconvenience.
