circle mrt line

The Circle Line (CCL) is the fourth MRT line currently under construction in Singapore. The line will be 33.3 km long with about 29 stations, and will be operated by SMRT Corporation. Like the North East Line, it will be driverless, fully automatic and entirely underground. As the name implies, it will be an orbital line linking all radial lines leading to the city. Transfer to the North South Line will be provided at Bishan and Dhoby Ghaut stations, East West Line at Paya Lebar and Buona Vista stations, and North East Line at Dhoby Ghaut, Serangoon and HarbourFront stations.

Status

The completed line will reduce travelling time for commuters by allowing them to shorten trips between north to east or north to west and vice versa, bypassing busy interchanges like City Hall and Raffles Place. The project will be implemented in five stages at an estimated cost of S$6.7 billion. Part of the Circle Line is to be operational by 2007, with the entire line expected to be fully operational by 2010.

Nicoll Highway collapse

On April 20, 2004, a section of underground tunnel being built for the Circle Line collapsed, apparently when a retaining wall used in the tunnel's construction gave way. This occurred near what was to become the Nicoll Highway station on the Circle line, not far from the Merdeka Bridge. The accident left a collapse zone 150 m wide, 100 m long, and 30 m deep. Three workers were killed, with one more missing and presumed dead. The rescue efforts were called off on April 23, 2004 because of the fading hope for survival, danger to the rescue teams and the increasing need to stabilise the ground around the accident site to reduce the risk of further collapses. All six lanes of the Nicoll Highway were heavily damaged, rendering the road unusable. The highway re-opened on December 5, 2004 after reconstruction efforts. A criminal inquiry is currently underway to determine which party, the Land Transport Authority, Nishimatsu-Lum Chang, or some other entity, was responsible for the collapse.