$1.2b worth of contracts awarded for Downtown Line

$1.2b worth of contracts awarded for Downtown Line
Christopher Tan
Wed, Jan 23, 2008
The Straits Times

CONSTRUCTION of Singapore's newest MRT project, the Downtown Line, is well underway, with close to $1.2 billion worth of civil contracts awarded.

Japanese construction giant Taisei Corp clinched the latest major contract this week.

Taisei will build the line's Landmark Station, which is located at Central Boulevard near the Marina Bay Financial Centre, for $230 million. The job includes construction of adjoining MRT tunnels.

Taisei's winning bid was the lowest among five bidders. Hock Lian Seng Infrastructure, Samsung Corp, Sato Kogyo and Sembawang Engineers tendered between $289.3 million and $362.9 million for the job.

Taisei will also build the main trunk road, Central Boulevard, above the station.

The $12 billion 40km Downtown Line is being built in three stages.

The first stage, a 4.3km stretch with six stations, will serve the new downtown in Marina Bay.

The six stations are Bugis, Promenade, Bayfront, Landmark, Cross Street and Chinatown. Major civil works for all have been contracted except for Promenade and Bugis.

Taisei's contract brings the total amount of major works awarded for the Downtown Line to nearly $1.2 billion.

The first stage of the line is expected to be completed in 2013; and the whole project is targetted to be ready by 2018.