Bright Hill Station is an interchange station between the second stage of the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL2) and the first stage of the Cross Island Line (CRL1). Construction for TEL2 is progressing well and on track to open for passenger service in 2020. CRL1 was gazetted today, and scheduled to commence passenger service in 2029.

2.   Bright Hill Station will serve schools such as Ai Tong Primary School and residents from Sin Ming Garden, Faber Gardens and The Gardens at Bishan. When the entire TEL^[1]is fully operational in 2024, commuters can enjoy direct connectivity from Bright Hill station to the city centre as well as the northern and eastern regions of Singapore. In addition, the CRL will connect commuters from Bright Hill Station to the western and north-eastern regions.

3.   The station measures 240 metres long and 20 metres deep, and has four entrances. It is also designated as a Civil Defence shelter.

Construction Challenges for Thomson-East Coast Line Bright Hill Station

4.   The unique geographical conditions in the area created multiple challenges for LTA and its contractors when constructing TEL Bright Hill Station:

(a)  Due to the hard granite rocks in this area, additional equipment, specialised machinery and methods were employed to install more than 1,500 bored piles. These piles make up the Earth Retaining and Stabilizing Structure which is needed to retain the soil and facilitate underground excavation works for Bright Hill Station;

(b)  The soft soil and loose sand underlain by hard granite under Inglewood Estate and Kallang River also required ground strengthening works prior to the commencement of tunneling works;

(c)  As Bright Hill Station is located underneath Sin Ming Avenue and Sin Ming Walk, multiple stages of traffic diversion are required to facilitate the construction. Six stages of traffic diversion have been conducted so far, with four more to be conducted in the near future to facilitate reinstatement works.

5.   Currently, construction of the underground structure and track laying works at TEL Bright Hill Station have been completed, and the above-ground structures are close to completion. Electrical and mechanical works are about 30 per cent completed, while architectural design works are ongoing.

Annex: Artist impression of TEL Bright Hill Station
 

^[1] This excludes Founders’ Memorial Station, which will open in tandem with the Founders’ Memorial.