Jurong West is a planning area and residential town located in the West Region of Singapore. Jurong West shares boundaries with Tengah in the north, Jurong East in the east, Boon Lay and Pioneer in the south, and Western Water Catchment in the west.

Jurong West
Other transcription(s)
 • Chinese裕廊西
Yùlángxī (Pinyin)
Jū-lông-sai (Hokkien POJ)
 • MalayJurong Barat (Rumi)
جوروڠ بارت (Jawi)
 • Tamilஜூரோங் மேற்கு
Jūrōṅ Mēṟku (Transliteration)
From top, left to right: Jurong West New Town, Jurong West Park, Jurong West Primary School, Jurong West Public Library, Jurong West Secondary School, Jurong West Town Centre.
Location of Jurong West in Singapore
Location of Jurong West in Singapore
Jurong West is located in Singapore
Jurong West
Jurong West
Location of Jurong West within Singapore
Coordinates: 1°20′23″N 103°42′16″E / 1.33972°N 103.70444°E / 1.33972; 103.70444
Country Singapore
RegionWest Region
CDCs
Government
 • MayorsSouth West CDC
 • Members of ParliamentJurong GRC

Pioneer SMC

West Coast GRC

Area
 • Total
9.87 km2 (3.81 sq mi)
 • Residential4.8 km2 (1.9 sq mi)
Population
 (2020)[2][3]
 • Total
262,730
 • Density27,000/km2 (69,000/sq mi)
Postal district
22
Dwelling units73,510
Projected ultimate94,000

Originally a forested area, Jurong West is undergoing rapid development under the ambition of the Housing and Development Board (HDB) to transform it into a fully mature housing estate.[4][5]

History

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Jurong West originated from the area once called Peng Kang,[6] named after the gambier plantations along Sungei Jurong.[7] By the mid-20th century, the area was home to several brickworks, palm oil plantations and nurseries.[8] At that time, the only public housing estates in Jurong West were Boon Lay and Taman Jurong.[9] Jurong West was largely left alone until 1984, when the HDB began conceptualisation for a new town in Jurong West.[10] Jurong West was carved into nine subzones that would house a total of 94,000 public and private housing units in the long term.[11][3]

The town's first apartment blocks (known locally as flats) were completed at Taman Jurong in 1963.[12][13] By November 2004, about 71,522 dwelling units were completed.[14] As of 31 March 2018, there are 74,301 HDB dwelling units in Jurong West.[15]

Geography

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Jurong West is a primarily residential town situated west of Tengah New Town in the western part of Singapore,[15] under the West Region as defined by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA).

The town is bordered to the north by the Pan Island Expressway (PIE), to the east by Sungei Jurong (Jurong River) and Jurong Lake, to the south by the Ayer Rajah Expressway (AYE), and to the west by Benoi Road and Upper Jurong Road. Jurong West Town Centre is located in Jurong West Central. An industrial area, part of the Jurong Industrial Estate, is located south of Boon Lay Way and Upper Jurong Road. Another industrial area is currently under development in Wenya as part of the Jurong Innovation District.[16]

Subzones

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Jurong West New Town is divided into the following nine subzones.[17][11]

 
A landed housing estate in Yunnan, with Wenya in the foreground.

Demographics

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As of 2018, Jurong West has a population of 266,720, most of whom are part of the working population.[2] The most populous subzone is Yunnan with 68,840 residents, closely followed by Jurong West Central with 65,720 residents. Chin Bee, however, has just ten residents, while Safti is completely unpopulated.[2] Packed into an area of 9.87 km2 (3.81 sq mi), of which just 4.8 km2 (1.9 sq mi) are designated as residential areas, Jurong West has a population density of 27,000 people per km2 (70,000 per mi2).[1]

Notable places

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The Jurong Central Park provides a recreation space for people working in the industrial developments along Jalan Boon Lay.

Jurong West's two main rivers, Sungei Jurong and Sungei Lanchar, run through the town with a network of green connectors along their banks. They link housing precincts to neighborhood parks such as Jurong Central Park, as well as the Jurong West Sports Centre, Jurong West Stadium and Frontier Community Centre. These park connectors are linked to the Chinese Garden in Jurong East New Town and the Bukit Batok Town Park in the north, to better serve the recreational needs of the residents of Jurong West.[18] Jurong Central Park, located in Kian Teck, is a rectangular green space created behind Boon Lay MRT station.[19]

Jurong West's major public transport amenities were built in tandem with the main public housing development. The elevated track infrastructure of the East West MRT line was developed as the existing public housing blocks were being built in the 1980s.[20][21] The amenities were built in a contiguous building complex, which gives commuters direct access between Boon Lay MRT station, Boon Lay Bus Interchange, The Centris condominium and Jurong Point shopping centre.[22][23][24]

Transportation

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City planners plan for public transport to eventually become the preferred mode of transport. The government of Singapore uses public transport to reduce pollution caused by heavy road traffic.[25] Jurong West is part of the Urban Redevelopment Authority's focus for realising this urban planning model. As Jurong West is relatively distant from the city centre at the Central Area, an efficient, high-volume and high-speed public transport system is also preferred to using road networks, as the government is aiming to reduce the number of cars on the road.[26]

Public transport

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East West line

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Jurong West Town is linked to the rest of Singapore through the East West Line (EWL) at Boon Lay MRT station, located at the Town Centre. The EWL is a heavy rail mass rapid transit system, and connects to other systems in the MRT network. It is operated by SMRT.

There are three Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) stations that serve Jurong West Planning Area, which are Lakeside, Boon Lay and Pioneer.

Boon Lay MRT station
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The Boon Lay MRT Station is located next to Boon Lay Bus Interchange for commuters' ease of switching across different modes of public transport. The MRT station began operations on 6 July 1990,[27] as the western terminus of the East West Line, before additional stations were added further west of the line at Pioneer and Joo Koon on 28 February 2009.[28]

Lakeside MRT station
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Lakeside (EW26), another station along the EWL in Jurong West Town, serves the housing developments in Taman Jurong, Hong Kah and Boon Lay. The station began operations on 5 November 1988.

Pioneer MRT station
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Pioneer (EW28) is the newest EWL station to open in Jurong West, on 28 February 2009.[29] The station improves accessibility to residential areas of Nanyang and Pioneer, as well as the industrial areas located south of the station.[30]

Jurong Region line

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The inter-town Jurong Region Line (JRL) system is a 24 km mass rapid transit line that will connect residents to the town centre, as well as other areas such as Tengah, Choa Chu Kang and Jurong East. The MRT line will have 24 stations and all will be elevated. The line will open from 2026 onwards.

Boon Lay Bus Interchange

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The Boon Lay Bus Interchange was originally opened in July 1990 along with Boon Lay MRT station.[31] At that time, developments around the area in Jurong West New Town were still actively in progress. It was later rebuilt[32] and reopened in 2009[33] at the ground level of Jurong Point Shopping Centre, next to Centris condominium, and is the fourth air-conditioned bus interchange in Singapore, after Toa Payoh Bus Interchange, Sengkang Bus Interchange and Ang Mo Kio Bus Interchange.These bus services from this interchange would be mostly operated by SMRT Buses from September 2024 onwards after being operated by SBS Transit for many years with the incumbent operations under the Jurong West Bus Package.

Road network

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Jurong West is connected to many parts of Singapore through its road network. The Pan Island Expressway (PIE) and Ayer Rajah Expressway (AYE) link Jurong West Town up with Singapore's expressway network.

Major roads that run within the boundaries of Jurong West Planning Area include Corporation Road, Boon Lay Way, Jalan Boon Lay, Jalan Bahar, Upper Jurong Road, Pioneer Road North, Jurong West Avenue 4 and Jurong West Avenue 2.

Jurong West Town Centre

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There are four major building complexes within the Jurong West Town Centre.

Jurong Point Shopping Centre

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Jurong Point Shopping Centre is Singapore's largest suburban shopping centre.[34] The shopping centre started operations in December 1995[35] and expanded twice in 1999[36] and 2008.[37]

The Centris

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The Centris is a private condominium that is located above Jurong Point Shopping Centre.[38]

Jurong West Community Building

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The Jurong West Community Building is an integrated development comprising the Jurong West Public Library, The Frontier Community Club and Jurong Medical Centre.[39] It is located behind Jurong Point Shopping Centre.

Boon Lay Interchange

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Boon Lay Interchange, located in the centre of the town, consists of the Boon Lay Bus Interchange and Boon Lay MRT station.[40]

Amenities

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Education

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There are 12 primary schools,[41] 11 secondary schools and 2 international schools[42][43] in Jurong West New Town.

 
Westwood Primary School is one of the 12 primary schools in Jurong West.

Fire stations

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Jurong Fire Station, which opened on 17 November 2017, is the first fire station in Singapore to have a slide.[44] The fire station covers 4,000 square metres,[45] and is used by the Singapore Civil Defence Force.

Medical facilities

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Pioneer Polyclinic is located next to Jurong West Primary School, along Jurong West Street 61.

Pioneer Polyclinic is a government healthcare institution serving the local community in Jurong West.[46] The polyclinic was opened in January 2018.[47] Also located in Jurong West is the Jurong Medical Centre, which complements the acute and step-down care services of Ng Teng Fong General Hospital and Jurong Community Hospital.[48]

Sports facilities

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Jurong West Sports Centre,[49] formerly known as Jurong West Sports and Recreation Centre,[50] is the largest sports centre in Singapore,[51] and offers one of the two sheltered pools managed by Sport Singapore.

Politics

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Currently, Jurong West is represented in the Parliament of Singapore by seven members of parliament (MPs): three MPs from Jurong GRC, one MP from Pioneer SMC, and three MPs from West Coast GRC, with effect from the 2020 General Election.[52]

References

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  1. ^ a b Key Statistics | HDB Annual Report 2014/2015 (Report). Housing and Development Board. p. 10. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
  2. ^ a b c Singapore Residents by Planning Area/Subzone, Age Group and Sex, June 2018 (XLS) (Report). Singapore Department of Statistics. p. 79. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 December 2018. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
  3. ^ a b "Land Area and Dwelling Units by Town". Data Singapore. 2016. Archived from the original on 12 June 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
  4. ^ National Library Board (20 June 2016). "Boon Lay | Infopedia". Archived from the original on 20 December 2018. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
  5. ^ Housing and Development Board (4 October 2017). "Jurong West | HDB InfoWEB". Archived from the original on 22 December 2018. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
  6. ^ Singapore: Tuas, Peng Kang, Pulau Merlimau, Pulau Ayer Chawan (Map). Singapore: The National Archives, United Kingdom. 1923. Archived from the original on 3 January 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  7. ^ "The Origins of Peng Kang and Boon Lay, Jurong West Neighbourhood Park". National Heritage Board. 11 April 2016. Archived from the original on 3 January 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  8. ^ South West Singapore (Map). 1:25,000. Singapore: The British Library. 1945. Archived from the original on 3 January 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  9. ^ New Nation (1 June 1979). "HDB takes over". Archived from the original on 3 January 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  10. ^ The Straits Times (2 April 1986). "New Jurong West to be twice as big". Archived from the original on 3 January 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  11. ^ a b "Jurong West Planning Area". Urban Redevelopment Authority. Archived from the original on 13 March 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
  12. ^ "The Forgotten Diamond of Taman Jurong". Remember Singapore. 28 January 2015. Archived from the original on 3 January 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  13. ^ The Straits Times (4 November 1963). "221 flats up at Jurong industrial site". Archived from the original on 3 January 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  14. ^ "New HDB service centre for Jurong West residents". Today. 6 November 2004. Archived from the original on 3 January 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  15. ^ a b "Jurong West". Housing & Development Board. Archived from the original on 19 November 2017. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
  16. ^ "Jurong Innovation District". JTC Corporation. Archived from the original on 21 September 2019. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
  17. ^ "Singapore's Jurong West Planning Area". Key Location. Archived from the original on 21 September 2019. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
  18. ^ "Western Adventure Loop brochure" (PDF). National Parks Board. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 January 2019. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  19. ^ "Jurong Central Park". The Straits Times. Singapore. 12 June 2011. Archived from the original on 24 September 2021. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  20. ^ "Taiwan-S'pore venture wins Boon Lay job". The Business Times. Singapore. 10 May 1988. Archived from the original on 5 January 2019. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  21. ^ "MRT to Jurong today". The New Paper. 5 November 1988. Archived from the original on 5 January 2019. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  22. ^ "$720m project for Boon Lay". The New Paper. Singapore. 22 March 2006. Archived from the original on 5 January 2019. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  23. ^ "Boon for Boon Lay with LTA's New Integrated PT Hub". Land Transport Authority. 13 August 2009. Archived from the original on 19 April 2015. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  24. ^ Maria Almenoar (25 December 2009). "Largest air-con Bus Interchange to open". The Straits Times. Singapore. Archived from the original on 28 September 2021. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  25. ^ "Public Transport". www.mot.gov.sg. Ministry of Transport, Singapore. 5 February 2018. Archived from the original on 11 February 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  26. ^ Land Transport Authority (21 February 2018). "Walk Cycle Ride". Archived from the original on 2 November 2019. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
  27. ^ "New gains". The New Paper. 30 June 1990. Archived from the original on 24 September 2021. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  28. ^ "Boon Lay MRT Extension to open on Feb 28". The Business Times. 31 October 2008. p. 12.
  29. ^ Maria Almenoar (6 February 2009). "Western suburb gets a rail boost". The Straits Times. Singapore. Archived from the original on 24 September 2021. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  30. ^ "Expanding The Rail Network: LTA To Build Boon Lay MRT Extension". Land Transport Authority. 29 December 2004. Archived from the original on 13 May 2011.
  31. ^ "Boon Lay Interchange to open next month". The Straits Times. 9 June 1990. Archived from the original on 28 September 2021. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  32. ^ "Relocation Of Boon Lay Interchange". SBS Transit. 14 June 2006. Archived from the original on 24 December 2018. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
  33. ^ SBS Transit. "First and Largest Air-conditioned Bus Interchange to open in the West". Archived from the original on 16 June 2018. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
  34. ^ "Jurong Point to spruce up mall and improve training of service staff". The Straits Times. 13 November 2013. Archived from the original on 23 December 2018. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
  35. ^ "Proposed sale of Jurong Point mall draws mixed views". TodayOnline. 27 October 2016. Archived from the original on 23 December 2018. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
  36. ^ Denise Tan (26 January 1998). "Jurong Point to spend $85m on Extension". The Straits Times. Singapore. Archived from the original on 24 September 2021. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  37. ^ "Jurong Point put on market with over S$2b price tag". The Business Times. Archived from the original on 23 December 2018. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
  38. ^ The Centris. "The Centris". Archived from the original on 23 December 2018. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
  39. ^ "Jurong West Public Library". National Library Board. 30 October 2018. Archived from the original on 23 December 2018. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
  40. ^ "Boon Lay Bus Interchange". landtransportguru.net. 1 January 2018. Archived from the original on 23 December 2018. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
  41. ^ Ministry of Education (20 March 2018). "Primary Schools by Planning Area in Year 2019". Archived from the original on 2 October 2017. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
  42. ^ The Straits Times (27 July 2017). "New international school in Jurong to offer lower fees". Archived from the original on 22 December 2018. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
  43. ^ Canadian International School. "Lakeside Campus". Archived from the original on 20 September 2018. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
  44. ^ Channel NewsAsia (17 November 2017). "New Jurong Fire Station opens with upgraded capabilities, firefighters' slide". Archived from the original on 22 December 2018. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
  45. ^ Channel NewsAsia (22 February 2016). "New Jurong Fire Station to be completed in 2017". Archived from the original on 22 December 2018. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
  46. ^ "New polyclinic opens in Jurong West". The Straits Times. 27 July 2017. Archived from the original on 22 December 2018. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
  47. ^ "Pioneer Polyclinic serving more residents in Jurong". The Straits Times. 27 January 2018. Archived from the original on 22 December 2018. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
  48. ^ "About JMC". National University Health Services Group. Archived from the original on 22 December 2018. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
  49. ^ ActiveSG. "Jurong West Sports Centre". Archived from the original on 24 December 2018. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
  50. ^ Ministry of Trade and Industry (28 October 2007). "Mr S Iswaran at the Official Opening of the Jurong West Sports and Recreation Centre". Archived from the original on 23 December 2018. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
  51. ^ Sport Singapore (28 October 2007). "SSC's Largest Sports & Recreation Centre Officially Opens in Jurong West". Archived from the original on 23 December 2018. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
  52. ^ "White Paper on the Report of the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee 2020" (PDF). Elections Department Singapore. 13 March 2020. p. 14. Archived (PDF) from the original on 5 July 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
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