Forging part of Singapore’s seventh MRT line, Doka’s planning, assembly, supervision and installation are helping to keep the Jurong Region Line (JRL) on schedule for delivery in January 2025.
Doka Singapore is past the halfway point for its work on three stations and a viaduct on Singapore’s seventh MRT line. The stations, which include Toh Guan (JE4), Jurong Town Hall and Pandan Reservoir, are part of a wider US$515 million project that involves the design, site supervision, assembly and installation of Doka’s proposed solution.
Once complete, the JRL network will significantly improve the connectivity and development of the area, which is set to become the largest commercial hub outside of the central business district. As a result, commuters can expect to be connected to key activity nodes, such as the Jurong Industrial Estate, Jurong Innovation District and the Nanyang Technological University (NTU).
Working with joint venture main contractors, Daewoo-Yongnam, and subcontractor, SAE&C, Doka faced numerous logistical challenges, given the project site’s heavily built-up area, live traffic from the four-lane Jurong East Central Road, and its proximity to an existing MRT line. With the Toh Guan Station requiring 10 cross-heads spanning the highway, Doka’s first challenge was to deliver a solution that allowed the cross-head installation to proceed without interfering with the traffic below.
By assembling a Steel Girder Formwork system 3 km away offsite, the Doka team was able to complete the majority of the work away from the jobsite before installing the system in combination with its heavy-duty shoring system UniKit via truck and crane, resulting in just one overnight road closure. Serving the dual purpose of truss support and wall formwork, the Steel Girder Formwork also ensured a minimal footprint as the formwork was only supported at the centre area around the column.
Complete with integrated walkways on both UniKit shoring towers and the Steel Girder Formwork, Doka ensured the safety of site teams throughout the project. Aside from completing the work with minimal disruption, this was also the first time Doka’s Steel Girder Formwork system had been used outside of North America and the first time UniKit had been used in Singapore.
“Finding a solution that took into account the project’s various challenges was going to be difficult, particularly considering its busy location; however, by leveraging the extensive benefits of our offsite prefabrication and working in close collaboration with our partners, we were able to deliver the project specifications within minimal disruption to the location community, while ensuring site safety remained a priority at all times,” said Boon Chun Wui, senior sales manager at Doka Singapore.
Having started the project in February 2024, Doka’s portion of the project is expected to be handed over by January 2025. Upon completion, the JRL will connect more than 60,000 households in the Jurong area within a 10-minute walk from a train station, while its three interchange stations will enhance connectivity to the existing rail network.
All images: Doka
Note: This story has also been published in the Nov/Dec 2024 issue of SEAC. Click here to read it online or here to download the PDF file (pages 36-38).
