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King Albert Park MRT station

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King Albert Park MRT station is an underground Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) station on the Downtown line (DTL) in Bukit Timah, Singapore. Located at the western end of Bukit Timah Road at the junction of Blackmore Drive, this station serves the private residential estates along the Bukit Timah corridor. Sites surrounding the station include Methodist Girls' School, Ngee Ann Polytechnic, and the preserved Bukit Timah Railway Station.

 DT6  CR15 
King Albert Park
阿尔柏王园
கிங் ஆல்பர்ட் பார்க்
Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) station
Photograph of the station platform with escalators leading up to the concourse in the background
Platform level of King Albert Park station
General information
Location2 Blackmore Drive
Singapore 599987[1]
Coordinates01°20′09″N 103°47′01″E / 1.33583°N 103.78361°E / 1.33583; 103.78361
Operated bySBS Transit DTL Pte Ltd (ComfortDelGro Corporation) (Downtown line)
Line(s)
  Downtown Line
  Cross Island Line
Platforms2 (1 island platform) + 2 (1 island platform) (U/C)
Tracks2 + 2 (U/C)
ConnectionsBus, taxi
Construction
Structure typeUnderground
Platform levels1
Bicycle facilitiesYes
AccessibleYes
History
Opened27 December 2015; 8 years ago (2015-12-27) (Downtown line)
Opening2032; 8 years' time (2032) (Cross Island line)
ElectrifiedYes
Previous namesBlackmore, Bukit Timah[2][3][4]
Passengers
June 20245,658 per day[5]
Services
Preceding station Mass Rapid Transit Following station
Beauty World
towards Bukit Panjang
 Downtown Line Sixth Avenue
towards Expo
Turf City
towards Aviation Park
 Cross Island Line
Future service
 Maju
towards Jurong Lake District
Location
Singapore MRT/LRT system map
Singapore MRT/LRT system map
King Albert Park
King Albert Park station in Singapore

First announced as Blackmore MRT station in July 2008, the station was constructed as part of DTL Stage 2 (DTL2). Construction was briefly delayed due to residents' concerns of the tunnel launch shaft near their estate, and the sudden dissolution of Alpine Bau contracted to construct the station. Initially forecast to open in mid-2016, the station opened earlier on 27 December 2015 along with the other DTL2 stations. In September 2022, the station was announced to interchange with the future Cross Island line (CRL). The station features an Art-in-Transit artwork The Natural History of Singapore's Mythical Botanic Creatures by the Artists Caravan.

History

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Downtown line

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The station was first announced as "Blackmore" station when the stations on Downtown Line Stage 2 (DTL2) were revealed in July 2008.[6] The station name was finalised as "King Albert Park" through a public poll in July 2009.[7] Contract 917 for the design and construction of the station and the adjacent tunnels was awarded to Alpine Bau GmbH (Singapore Branch) in September 2009. The S$350 million (US$240.7 million) contract included the construction of the adjacent Sixth Avenue station. Construction was targeted to begin in 2010.[8]

Construction works had to be suspended for two months over Maplewood residents' concerns about the tunnel boring machine (TBM) launch shaft located right outside the condominium.[9][10] The construction space required pedestrians to take an alternative route which residents considered "dangerous" and "inconvenient" especially for Methodist Girls' School (MGS) students due to the movement of construction vehicles. Motorists exiting the condominium had to watch out and give way to fast-moving traffic along Bukit Timah Road. The new construction site also limited access for service and emergency vehicles to the condominium. Unhappy that they were not consulted, the residents launched a petition to prime minister Lee Hsien Loong while some appealed to the local Member of Parliament (MP) Christopher de Souza to change the construction plans.[10][11]

Residents had suggested relocating the TBM launch shaft to Sixth Avenue station. However, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) explained that would require demolishing the shophouses. Another suggestion to drill the tunnels from Tan Kah Kee station would delay construction by another four years.[12] Souza and the LTA, through engagements with the Maplewood residents, offered to rebuild a new direct pathway between the condominium and MGS and reconfigure the traffic to and from the condominium.[13][14]

Eventually, road markings and traffic lights were implemented along Bukit Timah Road so traffic on the road would have to slow down near the condo. Noise barriers were erected to minimise construction noise and the construction site was regularly washed to minimise dust accumulation.[12] The traffic scheme was revised so construction vehicles do not have to pass by the condominium.[15] Construction resumed in the middle of July 2011.[12]

A 14 m (46 ft) precast segment of the Bukit Timah canal wall near the junction of Bukit Timah Road and Clementi Road was dislodged, which prompted a halt in construction works and the closure of the rightmost two lanes on Bukit Timah Road on 17 January 2012. Cement had to be injected to stabilise the ground.[16]

Bankruptcy of main contractor

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Construction site of the station

On 19 June 2013, the main contractor for the station Alpine Bau went bankrupt.[17][18][19] The sudden insolvency caught the LTA by surprise, as the construction was going well by then.[18][19][20] An "unprecedented situation",[19] the LTA immediately took action. A security firm was employed to protect the sites and the incomplete structures, while the LTA worked with experts to preserve the tunnel boring machines and recharge wells. As the LTA sought a new contractor, McConnell Dowell South East Asia, the contractor for Beauty World station, was temporarily appointed as the caretaker contractor to carry on tunnelling works. Through engagement with the Ministry of Manpower, the 400 affected workers were reassigned or sent home.[20][21]

On 29 August 2013, the LTA announced the appointment of two new contractors for King Albert Park and the two other stations. The contract for the completion of the King Albert Park and Sixth Avenue stations and associated tunnels was awarded to McConnell Dowell at a contract sum of $254 million (US$203 million).[22][23] The contractors were appointed just eight weeks after the insolvency, whereas usually, a tender needed at least six months for evaluation and processing. The quick appointment was to reduce the delay in the completion of DTL2.[24]

To speed up the construction as much as possible, manpower for the construction of these stations increased by 25%, with workers taking up additional graveyard shifts so that work could continue throughout the day and night. To reduce inconvenience to residents, rather than using conventional breakers, quieter wire saws were utilised to break up the concrete struts.[20][25]

On 28 June 2015, Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew announced that the DTL2 would be opened earlier,[26] with the works 95% complete.[25] The LTA managed to bring forward the completion as the staff worked through many weekends and "sleepless nights". The engineers were reported to be "equally proud and relieved" of the achievement and they were credited for their cooperation and hard work.[25] In August that year, Lui announced that the DTL2 segment would open on 27 December.[27][28][29] Prior to the station's opening, passengers were offered a preview of the station during the DTL open house on 5 December.[30]

Cross Island line

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The station was first announced to interchange with the Cross Island line (CRL) on 20 September 2022 by Transport Minister S Iswaran. The CRL platforms will be constructed as part of CRL Phase 2, a 15 km (9.3 mi) segment spanning six stations from Turf City station to Jurong Lake District station.[31][32]

The contract for the construction of CRL King Albert Park station was awarded to China Communications Construction Company Limited (Singapore Branch) for S$447 million (US$333.58 million) in October 2023. Construction of the new station was scheduled to begin in 2024 and be completed in 2032.[33][34]

Details

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Exit A of the station

King Albert Park station serves the Downtown line (DTL) and is situated between the Beauty World and Sixth Avenue stations. The official station code is DT6.[35] Being part of the DTL, the station is operated by SBS Transit.[36] The station is located along Bukit Timah Road at the junction with Blackmore Drive.[1] Surrounding landmarks of the station include: Bukit Timah Railway Bridge, the preserved Bukit Timah Railway Station,[37][38] Covenant Community Methodist Church, Methodist Girls' School, Ngee Ann Polytechnic, and Sime Darby Centre.[39]

Design

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The designs of King Albert Park station and the adjoining stations, Tan Kah Kee and Sixth Avenue, are intended to represent the natural elements.[40] The blue and turquoise panels in the station, arranged in ripple patterns, is intended to reflect the water surfaces.[41]

The station is wheelchair-accessible. A tactile system, consisting of tiles with rounded or elongated raised studs,[42] guides visually impaired commuters through the station, with dedicated routes that connect the station entrances to the platforms or between the lines. Wider fare gates allow easier access for wheelchair users into the station.[43]

King Albert Park station is a designated Civil Defence (CD) shelter.[44] To be activated in times of national emergency, the station features the reinforced steel blast doors and decontamination chambers to protect against chemical attacks.[45]

Art-in-Transit

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Artwork within the station

King Albert Park station features The Natural History of Singapore's Mythical Botanic Creatures by Chan Mei Hsien, Long Ying Han and Soh Pei Ling Joey of the Artists Caravan.[46] The work was commissioned as part of the MRT network's Art-in-Transit (AiT) Programme, a public art showcase which integrates artworks into the MRT network.[47] The artwork depicts bronze statues of fantasy creatures placed at corners of the station, along with a "Nature Notebook" by MGS students printed on glass panes along the station's pedestrian bridge.[46] Referencing the wildlife that resides in the nearby Bukit Timah Nature Reserve,[47] the artwork is intended as a "whimsical narrative", depicting contrasts between natural and manmade environmental features through the revelation of the "secret lives" of these mystical creatures.[48][49][50]

References

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  1. ^ a b "DT6 King Albert Park MRT Station". OneMap. Singapore Land Authority. Retrieved 5 October 2022.
  2. ^ "Circle Line, Downtown Line 1 and 2 Station Names Finalised". www.lta.gov.sg. 16 June 2009. Archived from the original on 22 February 2013.
  3. ^ "Annex 1: Final Station Names" (PDF). www.lta.gov.sg.[dead link‍]
  4. ^ "Downtown Line 2 Station Names Shortlisted for Public Polling | Press Room". www.lta.gov.sg. 10 October 2008. Archived from the original on 22 February 2013.
  5. ^ "Land Transport DataMall". Datamall. Land Transport Authority. Archived from the original on 14 August 2024. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
  6. ^ "Downtown Line 2 Station Sites Named". Land Transport Authority. Archived from the original on 27 May 2011. Retrieved 17 June 2009.
  7. ^ "Circle Line, Downtown Line 1 and 2 Station Names Finalised". Land Transport Authority. 16 June 2009. Archived from the original on 25 April 2016.
  8. ^ "LTA Awards 2 Downtown Line Contracts". Land Transport Authority. 23 September 2009. Archived from the original on 7 March 2021. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
  9. ^ Feng 2017, p. 30.
  10. ^ a b "Residents petition against construction work at their doorstep". Channel NewsAsia. Mediacorp. 7 June 2011. Archived from the original on 9 June 2011. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
  11. ^ Feng 2017, p. 78.
  12. ^ a b c Feng 2017, p. 80.
  13. ^ "Solutions offered to Maplewoods residents". Channel NewsAsia. Mediacorp. 7 June 2011. Archived from the original on 10 June 2011. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
  14. ^ "Maplewoods residents unhappy with solutions offered". Channel NewsAsia. Mediacorp. 16 June 2011. Archived from the original on 18 June 2011. Retrieved 19 June 2011.
  15. ^ "LTA confident Downtown Line 2 will proceed as scheduled after delays". Channel NewsAsia. Mediacorp. 30 June 2011. Archived from the original on 1 July 2011. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  16. ^ Sim, Royston (20 January 2012). "Part of Bukit Timah canal found dislodged while tunnelling: LTA". The Straits Times. Singapore Press Holdings. Archived from the original on 20 January 2012. Retrieved 20 January 2012.
  17. ^ "Stage 2 of Downtown Line to open in first quarter 2016". TODAYonline. Archived from the original on 11 October 2016. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  18. ^ a b Christopher Tan (25 June 2013). "Key MRT project contractor goes bust". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 13 January 2021. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  19. ^ a b c Feng 2017, p. 72.
  20. ^ a b c Cheong, Danson (14 December 2015). "LTA duo keep DTL2 on track". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 14 February 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  21. ^ Feng 2017, p. 73.
  22. ^ Sim, Royston (29 August 2013). "New Downtown Line 2 contractor appointed, entire stage to be ready in mid-2016". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 13 January 2021. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  23. ^ "New Contractors Appointed for Three Downtown Line 2 Stations". Land Transport Authority. Archived from the original on 25 April 2016.
  24. ^ Feng 2017, p. 75.
  25. ^ a b c Feng 2017, p. 76.
  26. ^ "Thumbs Up For Downtown Line's Earlier Opening". The Straits Times. 3 October 2014. Archived from the original on 3 April 2015. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  27. ^ "The Rail Report: 12 Stations of Downtown Line 2 to Open on 27 December". Land Transport Authority. 6 August 2015. Archived from the original on 13 January 2021. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  28. ^ Lim, Adrian (7 August 2015). "Phase 2 of Downtown Line to open on Dec 27". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 13 January 2021. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  29. ^ Jo, Yeo Sam (28 December 2015). "Thousands check out Downtown Line 2 on opening day". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 13 January 2021. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  30. ^ "LTA | News Room | News Releases | Downtown Line 2 is Coming to Town….this December". www.lta.gov.sg. Archived from the original on 4 September 2020. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  31. ^ Chew, Hui Min (20 September 2022). "Six more MRT stations will be built in Phase 2 of Cross Island Line; to open by 2032". CNA. Archived from the original on 20 September 2022. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  32. ^ Kok, Yufeng (20 September 2022). "Cross Island Line phase 2 to open by 2032 with 6 MRT stations, from Turf City to Jurong Lake District". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 20 September 2022. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  33. ^ "LTA Awards Two Civil Contracts for Cross Island Line Phase 2". LTA. 2 October 2023. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  34. ^ "Cross Island Line Phase 2". LTA. 20 September 2022. Archived from the original on 20 September 2022. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  35. ^ "MRT System Map" (PDF). Land Transport Authority. Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 August 2020. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  36. ^ "Getting Around – Public Transport – Rail Network". Land Transport Authority. Archived from the original on 1 November 2019. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  37. ^ "Annex A: Accesses To Rail Corridor (Central)". National Parks Board. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
  38. ^ "Visit Bukit Timah Railway Station". National Parks Board. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
  39. ^ "Station Information – King Albert Park". SBS Transit. 5 January 2022. Archived from the original on 5 January 2022. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
  40. ^ "King Albert". PolyVision. Archived from the original on 2 April 2017. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
  41. ^ "DTL – King Albert Park MRT, Singapore". ONG&ONG. Archived from the original on 5 October 2022. Retrieved 5 October 2022.
  42. ^ "Tactile Guiding System: Studs and Strips to Guide Your Way". Land Transport Authority. 30 July 2021. Archived from the original on 11 September 2021. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
  43. ^ Feng 2017, p. 100.
  44. ^ "List of Public CD shelters as of 31 Dec 2019" (PDF). Singapore Civil Defence Force. Archived (PDF) from the original on 3 September 2021. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  45. ^ Hio, Lester (12 December 2015). "Public can take a look at emergency shelters at three Downtown Line stations this weekend". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 6 December 2021. Retrieved 5 October 2022.
  46. ^ a b "Hanging Out with the Mythical Botanic Creatures" (PDF). Land Transport Authority. Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 August 2022. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
  47. ^ a b "Getting Around – Public Transport – A Better Public Transport Experience – Art in Transit". LTA. 7 April 2020. Archived from the original on 21 April 2020. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  48. ^ Feng 2017, p. 94.
  49. ^ Amirah Liyana Reduwan (27 November 2015). "Downtown Line 2: Art in Transit". The New Paper. Archived from the original on 10 May 2016. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
  50. ^ "Art-in-Transit". SBSTransit. 5 October 2022. Archived from the original on 21 April 2020. Retrieved 6 October 2022.

Bibliography

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