WHAT IS THE CROSS ISLAND LINE?
Spanning Singapore, the Cross Island Line (CRL) will be about 50km in length and is targeted to complete around 2030.
WHERE IS THE CROSS ISLAND LINE?
When completed, the Cross Island Line (CRL) which starts from Changi, passing through Loyang, Pasir Ris, Hougang, Ang Mo Kio, Bukit Timah, Clementi, West Coast and Jurong, is expected to have a daily ridership of at least 600,000 commuters. This will place the CRL higher, in terms of capacity and usage, compared to the North East Line.
HOW WILL COMMUTERS BENEFIT FROM THE CRL?
The CRL will be an important part of our MRT network – providing a faster commute between the east and the west, from Changi to Jurong. It will connect all of our existing radial MRT lines with close to half of the 30-plus CRL stations being interchange stations. Besides relieving the load on several of the existing MRT lines, the CRL will also provide commuters with many more travel routes to get to their destinations, bring about greater comfort to commuters and shorten journey times.
For instance, a commuter travelling from Ang Mo Kio can reach almost any part of Singapore using public transport within less than one hour, saving up to 30 to 40 minutes of travel time. Residents in Punggol will be able to travel directly to Pasir Ris - a popular travel route - in only 10 to 15 minutes, as compared to a 40-minute bus journey today.
.jpg)
ALIGNMENT OPTIONS FOR THE CRL
The Government is currently studying two underground alignments in the vicinity of Central Catchment Nature Reserve (CCNR) in order to make an informed decision on the alignment option that best serves the public:
i) Direct alignment
- 2km tunnel beneath the CCNR, 2km outside it
- Approximately 40m deep
- No physical structure on the surface level within the CCNR
ii) Skirting alignment
- Does not cross under the CCNR
- 9km route length, with sections under homes and businesses
- Longer tunnels and extra ventilation facilities
No decision has been made on which of the two alignments to pursue. This is the first time an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is carried out for rail development because the Government is concerned about preserving nature and protecting the CCNR. Our extensive consultations with the nature groups have been very helpful, and we have taken on board many of their suggestions. Much care has also been taken to locate the works in areas that are less sensitive to biodiversity as much as possible. None of the surface vegetation will be affected as there is no need to clear any trees or branches.
The Government will consider the views from all stakeholders before deciding on the final CRL alignment. Apart from environmental impact, the decision on the final CRL alignment will also take into account the length of commute, engineering feasibility of both alignments, the impact on businesses and families and the cost to taxpayers.
MOVING FORWARD – SITE INVESTIGATIONS WORKS
A tender has been called to appoint a specialist to carry out site investigations (SI) works at the CCNR. This follows many discussions with nature groups, residents and other stakeholders.
After extensive public consultations and discussions on the mitigation measures, the National Parks Board has given approval to proceed with SI works within the CCNR, which are expected to commence in the fourth quarter of 2016. At the same time, SI works for the skirting alignment has also begun.
The results of the SI works will provide LTA with detailed information on the underground soil conditions. The findings will also be inputs for Phase 2 of the EIA, which will assess the impact of the construction and operations for both alignment options.
Only after the completion of the SI works, Phase 2 of the EIA, and taking into account various concerns and considerations, will the Government take a decision on the alignment for the CRL.
EIA Reference Documents
Final Site Investigation (EIA) reports:
Source: Land Transport Authority (10 Jun 2018)