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Nicoll Highway MRT station

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 CC5 
Nicoll Highway
尼诰大道
நிக்கல் நெடுஞ்சாலை
Nicoll Highway
Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) station
CC5 Nicoll Highway MRT Platforms 20210423 122552.jpg
Platform level of Nicoll Highway MRT station
Location20 Republic Avenue
Singapore 038970[1]
Coordinates1°17′59″N 103°51′49″E / 1.299697°N 103.863611°E / 1.299697; 103.863611Coordinates: 1°17′59″N 103°51′49″E / 1.299697°N 103.863611°E / 1.299697; 103.863611
Operated bySMRT Trains Ltd (SMRT Corporation)
Line(s)
  Circle Line
Platforms2 (1 island platform)
Tracks2
ConnectionsBus, taxi
Construction
Structure typeUnderground
Platform levels1
ParkingYes (Golden Mile Complex)
Bicycle facilitiesYes
Disabled accessYes
History
Opened17 April 2010; 11 years ago (2010-04-17)
ElectrifiedYes
Previous namesKampong Glam, Sultan Gate[2]
Services
Preceding station   Mass Rapid Transit   Following station
towards Dhoby Ghaut
Circle Line
towards HarbourFront
towards Marina Bay
Circle Line
Stadium Shuttle
Terminus
Location
Singapore MRT/LRT system map
Singapore MRT/LRT system map
Nicoll Highway
Nicoll Highway station in Singapore

Nicoll Highway MRT station is an underground Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) station on the Circle line (CCL) in Singapore. Located in Downtown Core underneath Republic Avenue, the station serves various developments along Nicoll Highway, such as the Golden Mile Complex and The Concourse. The station is operated by SMRT Trains.

First announced as part of the Marina MRT line (MRL), the station was incorporated into Stage 1 of the CCL. During the construction, the tunnels linking to the original station site caved in along with the highway on 20 April 2004, claiming four lives. Following an investigation into the collapse, which found human error and organisational failures as causes of the collapse, the station was relocated. Alongside the other stations on Stages 1 and 2 of the CCL, the station opened on 17 April 2010. The station, designed by ONG & ONG, features an Art-in-Transit artwork Re-claiming the Peripherals by Khiew Huey Chian.

History[]

The station was first announced in November 1999 as part of the Marina MRT line (MRL). The MRL consisted of six stations from the Dhoby Ghaut to Stadium stations.[3][4] In 2001, the station became part of CCL Stage 1 when the MRL was incorporated into the CCL.[5][6] The contract for the construction of Nicoll Highway station and associated tunnels was awarded to a joint venture between Nishimatsu Construction Co Ltd and Lum Chang Building Contractors Pte Ltd[5] at S$270 million (US$150.7 million) on 31 May 2001.[7][8]

From 16 March 2002, a section of the Nicoll Highway from Ophir Road to Merdeka Bridge had to be temporarily diverted for the station's construction, with the bus stops shifted accordingly. A new overhead bridge was constructed so that pedestrians could cross over the highway between the bus stops and The Concourse.[9]

Station collapse[]

Main article: Nicoll Highway collapse
External image
image icon The image of the Nicoll Highway collapse Source: Mothership

On 20 April 2004, the tunnels linking to the station caved in along with a 100-metre (330 ft) stretch of the Nicoll Highway. The collapse of a tunnel retaining wall caused soil subsidence,[10] creating a 100-by-130-by-30-metre (328 by 427 by 98 ft) hole.[11] The incident claimed the lives of four people with three injured.[12][13] While the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) managed to recover three bodies,[14][15] the search for the last victim's body had to be called off owing to the unstable condition of the collapsed area, and his body was never found and recovered.[16][17]

Safety measures were immediately implemented after the collapse, to minimise further damage to the collapsed area. A damaged canal had to be blocked up to prevent any water from the Kallang River from entering the site, while canvas sheets were laid on slopes in the site to protect the soil. Meanwhile, the surrounding buildings were monitored for their stability with additional settlement markers and electro-level beams installed at the nearby Golden Mile Complex.[10][18] Works were suspended at 16 of the 24 CCL dig sites to allow a review of the sites.[11][19]

The collapsed site was quickly stabilised through the injection of concrete into areas vulnerable to movement or further collapse. Several vehicles, equipment and construction materials were retrieved using a specialised crane.[20][21] The remaining equipment and material at the site were encased rather than retrieved to avoid risking further collapse. Access to the collapsed site via the completed parts of the tunnel and the shaft was sealed off.[20] After the site was refilled, the Nicoll Highway was rebuilt on bored piles such that the new highway would not be affected by future excavation works.[22] The highway reopened to traffic on 4 December 2004.[23]

Through an investigation by a Committee of Inquiry (COI), the report concluded that the incident could have been prevented and was caused by human error and organisational failures.[24] The strut-waler support system was poorly designed and was weaker than it should have been, while there was a lack of monitoring and proper management of data.[25] Although the Land Transport Authority (LTA) initially insisted that the collapse happened without warning,[26] the COI report revealed that there were already "warning signs", such as excessive wall deflections and surging inclinometer readings, which were not addressed seriously.[25][27] The report added that there was a lack of safety culture at the site and made several recommendations to improve the safety of construction projects,[25] which the government had accepted.[24]

Relocation and opening[]

The relocated station and realigned tunnels

On 4 February 2005, the LTA announced that the station would be relocated 100 m (330 ft) south of the original site along Republic Avenue, with a new tunnel alignment between the Millenia (now Promenade) and Boulevard (now Stadium) stations.[28] It was decided against rebuilding at the original site due to engineering challenges and higher costs.[29] The new station was to be built using the top-down method while the 1.8 km (1.1 mi) tunnels would be bored through,[30] minimising the impact on the environment.[29] The new station site had thicker 1.5 m (4.9 ft) retaining walls reaching 60 metres (200 ft) in height[30] – twice the previous depth.[29] To reduce ground movement, the walls would be embedded into hard layers of soil.[30][31]

On 29 September 2005, the LTA marked the start of the new station's construction with a ground-breaking ceremony,[32] during which the diaphragm walls were first installed.[33] On 26 January 2010, then Minister for Transport Raymond Lim announced that the station, together with the rest of CCL Stages 1 and 2, would be opened on 17 April that year.[34] Prior to its opening, passengers were offered a preview of the station during the CCL Discovery open house on 4 April 2010.[35]

Station details[]

Services[]

Nicoll Highway station serves the Circle line (CCL) and is situated between Promenade and Stadium stations. The official station code is CC5.[36] Prior to the collapse, plans had called for the station, along with Promenade station, to have a cross-platform interchange with an unspecified future line;[37] that line had to be realigned as the new station did not have provisions for the line.[38] The station operates between 5:45 am and 12:17 am[39] and has train frequencies ranging between 5 and 7 minutes in both directions.[40]

Name and location[]

Exit A of the station

As the name suggests, the station is located near Nicoll Highway underneath Republic Avenue.[1][30] The name of the station was its working name;[5] two other names for the station, Kampong Glam and Sultan Gate, were shortlisted in the LTA naming poll. While these names were intended to reflect the history and heritage of the area, they were considered unsuitable for the relocated station. With strong public support, the station kept its working name.[2]

Surrounding developments include Golden Mile Tower, Golden Sultan Plaza, The Concourse and The Plaza. The station is located on the west bank of the Kallang Basin and near the Kallang River, where the Kallang Water Sports Centre and Marina Promenade Park are situated. The station also serves the Hajjah Fatimah Mosque.[41][42]

Design[]

Designed by ONG & ONG, the station has a colour scheme of black, grey and white. The platform's dark, polished seats were intended to complement the rest of the station's modern design.[43] The station has two entrances, with Exit A of the station connecting to The Concourse via an overhead pedestrian bridge.[30][42] The station architecture is intended to be a representation of the "technological sophistication" of the MRT network.[43]

Station artwork[]

One of the reliefs above Platform B of the station

The station features Khiew Huey Chian's artwork Re-claiming the Peripherals as part of the Art-in-Transit programme, a public art showcase that integrates artworks into the MRT network. The artwork consists of four large 6-by-1-metre (19.7 by 3.3 ft) reliefs displayed over the platform doors, depicting often-overlooked wild plants[44] in various shapes and formations.[45] These plants had been crucial in preventing soil erosion of the reclaimed land on which the station is presently located,[46] and had also left a deep impression on Khiew during his youth. He sought to showcase their importance by depicting the site's early beginnings before the developments.[44]

The work was intended to be in shades of white but was changed to grey as the original colour was associated with death. The Art Review Panel was concerned that the work would make reference to the tragic Nicoll Highway collapse. Keeping the ambiguity of the artwork, the new colour complements the grey scheme of the station architecture.[45][47] During the artwork's production, one problem, which was later resolved, was the uneven backing of the material, which caused the colour shading to not "come out right". The station architects were concerned that the "pretty" figures would clash with the station's futuristic architecture, but Khiew felt that the contrast emphasised his intention of capturing the commuter's attention.[48] It was initially intended for his work to be spread across the platforms' entire length above the screen doors to represent the highway. However, this idea would have hindered maintenance works for the cables running above the doors. Hence, the work was limited to only four spaces, which Khiew took as a challenge to "communicate with less".[44] Khiew hoped that commuters will gain different perspectives from his work while encouraging them to be open-minded.[48]

Notes and references[]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b "Nicoll Highway MRT Station (CC5)". OneMap. Singapore Land Authority. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b "Annex A Finalised Names For Circle Line (CCL) Stages 1–3 Stations". Land Transport Authority (LTA). Archived from the original on 9 July 2011. Retrieved 9 July 2011.
  3. ^ "6 stations for Marina line's first phase". The Straits Times. 25 November 1999. p. 3.
  4. ^ "Marina rail line to be scaled back". The Business Times. 25 November 1999. p. 3.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Stage 1 of the Circle Line". LTA. Archived from the original on 10 April 2008. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  6. ^ "Circle Line and Kallang/Paya Lebar Expressway: Joint Press Statement by Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and Ministry of Law". Home – Archives Online. 28 April 2001. Archived from the original on 6 March 2020. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  7. ^ "Civil Works Contract Awarded For The Marina Line". LTA. Archived from the original on 1 May 2009. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
  8. ^ "Marina Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Line (C824 – Design and Build Tender)". CPG Consultants. Archived from the original on 9 October 2020. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  9. ^ "Temporary Realignment Of Nicoll Highway (Between Merdeka Bridge and Ophir Road)". LTA. 13 March 2002. Archived from the original on 1 May 2009. Retrieved 21 May 2009.
  10. ^ Jump up to: a b "Incident at Nicoll Highway – Technical Brief" (PDF). LTA. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 July 2007. Retrieved 17 July 2007.
  11. ^ Jump up to: a b Colin 2012, p. 82.
  12. ^ "MRT worksite wrecks Nicoll Highway". The Straits Times. 21 April 2004. p. 1.
  13. ^ "Friday's fatal mishap among worst worksite accidents since 2004 Nicoll Highway tragedy". TODAYonline. Archived from the original on 23 April 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  14. ^ "SCDF men find a second body". The Straits Times. 22 April 2004. p. 1.
  15. ^ "Delicate search for the missing". The Straits Times. 22 April 2004. pp. H2.
  16. ^ "Search called off". The Straits Times. 24 April 2004. p. 1.
  17. ^ "Risk of being buried alive". The Straits Times. 24 April 2004. pp. H6.
  18. ^ "Constant checks to make sure nearby buildings sound". The Straits Times. 22 April 2004. pp. H2.
  19. ^ "Main contractor told to stop all excavation work". The Straits Times. 24 April 2004. pp. H3.
  20. ^ Jump up to: a b "Stabilising ground is now top priority". The Straits Times. 25 April 2004. p. 11.
  21. ^ "Almost 500 items recovered from cave-in site". The Straits Times. 2 August 2004. p. 4.
  22. ^ "Nicoll Highway Updates". LTA. 10 September 2007. Archived from the original on 10 September 2007. Retrieved 23 April 2008.
  23. ^ "Re-Opening Of Nicoll Highway". LTA. 4 December 2009. Archived from the original on 1 May 2009. Retrieved 2 May 2009.
  24. ^ Jump up to: a b "Government Response To The Final Report Of The Committee Of Inquiry Into The Nicoll Highway Collapse". Ministry of Transport (MOT). 11 May 2005. Archived from the original on 22 April 2021. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  25. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Committee of Inquiry concludes string of critical design errors (that) caused (the) collapse at Nicoll Highway" (PDF). National Archives of Singapore. Ministry of Manpower. p. 13 May 2005. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 April 2021. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  26. ^ "It happened without warning: LTA". The Straits Times. 22 April 2004. p. 1.
  27. ^ "Critical warning signs 'overlooked'". The Straits Times. 11 September 2004. p. 8.
  28. ^ "Nicoll Highway MRT to be built at new site". The Business Times. 5 February 2005. p. 9.
  29. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Slower but safer way to rebuild collapsed MRT sector". The Straits Times. 5 February 2005. p. 8.
  30. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e "Reconstruction of Circle Line MRT Tunnels and Station At Nicoll Highway". MOT. 4 February 2005. Archived from the original on 22 April 2021. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  31. ^ "Reconstruction Of Circle Line MRT Tunnels And Station At Nicoll Highway". LTA. Archived from the original on 28 July 2007. Retrieved 2 May 2009.
  32. ^ "Nicoll Highway Project Restarted". Today. Singapore. 30 September 2005. Archived from the original on 16 June 2018. Retrieved 16 June 2018 – via NewspaperSG.
  33. ^ "Construction Of Nicoll Highway Station And Tunnels". LTA. Archived from the original on 1 May 2009. Retrieved 2 May 2009.
  34. ^ "Transport minister announces next phase of Circle Line will open on Apr 17". Channel NewsAsia. 26 January 2010. Archived from the original on 27 January 2010. Retrieved 26 January 2010.
  35. ^ "Discover CCL at Open House Event!". LTA. 15 March 2010. Archived from the original on 10 November 2016. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
  36. ^ "MRT System Map" (PDF). LTA. Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 August 2020. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  37. ^ "Implementation of the Marina Line System". Land Transport Directory of Singapore. Singapore : Transportation Infrastructure Development. p. 48.
  38. ^ "Line linked to Circle line may be realigned". The Straits Times. 5 February 2005. A planned MRT line meant to join the Circle Line at the original Nicoll Highway station may have to be realigned, the Land Transport Authority has indicated. It did not say which this would be.
  39. ^ "Nicoll Highway – First & Last Train". SMRT Journeys. Archived from the original on 24 April 2021. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  40. ^ "Transport Tools – MRT/LRT". LTA. 6 May 2020. Archived from the original on 1 November 2019. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  41. ^ "Nicoll Highway – Map". SMRT Journeys. Archived from the original on 21 April 2021. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  42. ^ Jump up to: a b "Nicoll Highway – Exits". SMRT Journeys. Archived from the original on 21 April 2021. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  43. ^ Jump up to: a b "Nicoll Highway MRT, Singapore – Project". Ong&Ong. 5 February 2021. Archived from the original on 23 April 2021. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  44. ^ Jump up to: a b c Zhuang 2013, p. 42.
  45. ^ Jump up to: a b "Circle Line Art" (PDF). LTA. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 February 2017.
  46. ^ "Getting Around – Public Transport – A Better Public Transport Experience – Art in Transit". LTA. 12 October 2020. Archived from the original on 21 April 2020. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  47. ^ Zhuang 2013, p. 40.
  48. ^ Jump up to: a b Zhuang 2013, p. 43.

Bibliography[]

  • Zhuang, Justin (2013). Art in transit: Circle Line MRT. Singapore: Land Transport Authority. ISBN 978-981-07-4982-8. OCLC 854958677.
  • Colin, Cheong (2012). The Circle Line: Linking All Lines. ISBN 978-981-4342-02-5.

External links[]

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