Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA) has awarded the civil contract for the design and construction of the new North-South Line (NSL) NS3A station and viaduct to Obayashi Corporation, at a contract value of around S$281 million. Construction works are expected to start in the first half of 2026, and passenger service for the station is targeted to commence in 2034.

Obayashi has an established track record in infrastructure projects which include rail stations and tunnels, both locally and abroad. The contractor is also currently involved in Cross Island Line Phase 2 projects under a joint venture with Shanghai Tunnel Engineering Co (Singapore) Pte Ltd for the design and construction of Turf City station and tunnels, as well as the design and construction of bored tunnels between Fairways Drive and Sin Ming Walk.

Located between Choa Chu Kang and Bukit Gombak stations on the North-South Line, the new NS3A station will be the third MRT station to be built on an existing elevated rail line after Canberra station (NSL) and Dover station (East-West Line). When completed, it will serve existing and future residential developments in Keat Hong Estate, Bukit Batok West, Pavilion Park Estate and Brickland District in Tengah Town. It will also serve existing educational institutions in the vicinity, such as ITE College West, Swiss Cottage Secondary School and St. Anthony’s Primary School, by providing more direct access to the rail network.

Significant engineering works are required for the addition of the NS3A station to the current rail network. These include:

• A new viaduct that will be built to facilitate the staged diversion of train services from existing viaducts. This will allow modification works to be carried out safely on the current rail infrastructure and systems, while still maintaining NSL train operations during the period of construction.

• New crossover tracks to be laid between existing tracks and new tracks, and the creation of a new siding which can be used in the event of train faults, thus improving service recovery and resiliency along this stretch of the NSL.

• Installation of a temporary protection enclosure over some stretches of the tracks during construction, as well as the carrying out of some works at night after train operation hours, to ensure the safety of the commuters.

All images: LTA