Some parts of Singapore have been under construction for so long that we can barely remember what they looked like before the cranes, dust, and noise arrived. It’s no wonder some Singaporeans have joked that our unofficial national bird is the crane, with Reddit threads often questioning why certain areas seem to be stuck in a never-ending cycle of upgrading works.
Naturally, 2 questions come to mind: what exactly are these endless construction works for and when will we finally see the finished results? We take a look at the areas that seem to always be under construction, and the future developments in Singapore that residents can look forward to.
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Ongoing construction for the North-South corridor, taken in March 2026.
Image credit: @translas_lioncity_n12 via Instagram
The main culprits are 2 massive transport projects: the North-South Corridor (NSC) and Cross Island Line (CRL). The NSC will become Singapore’s longest transit-priority corridor and 1st integrated transport corridor, while the CRL will be our 8th and longest MRT line spanning over 50km, connecting the eastern, western, and north-eastern corridors.
Meanwhile, construction in other areas like Woodlands and Changi can be broadly attributed to the Woodlands Gateway project and the development of Changi Airport Terminal 5.
Here’s a list of the places in Singapore that are forever under construction, what’s really going on, and when these works are expected to end:
Artist’s impression of the elevated roads and underground tunnels of the North-South Corridor.
Image credit: LTA
Anyone who regularly travels through Yio Chu Kang or Ang Mo Kio will probably be familiar with the temporary lanes, barriers, and constantly changing road arrangements. One of the most noticeable changes as the construction goes on is the removal of an overhead bridge connecting nearby residents to Yio Chu Kang MRT.
This is due to the construction of the 21.5km NSC. Besides a new road tunnel and viaduct, the project will also introduce dedicated bus lanes, cycling paths, and more pedestrian-friendly surface streets.
The good news here is that the NSC will open in phases soon. Its elevated section and the northern viaduct from Admiralty Road West to Lentor Avenue are targeted to launch in 2027, while the remaining road tunnel is slated to open in 2029.
Artist’s impression of surface streets of the North-South Corridor.
Image credit: LTA
Novena dwellers and frequenters would know by now that the endless road diversions and scaffoldings have been around for seemingly forever, maybe even since some of us were kids.
Well, this is because the Novena-Thomson area is also heavily affected by the NSC construction. Here, underground tunnels are being built below an already dense neighbourhood, which means extensive works are needed, including road diversions, utility relocations, and changes to pedestrian crossings and bus stops.
Unfortunately, these works have also meant longer travel times – particularly for the commuters affected by relocated or merged Thomson Road bus stops that now require detours. The major cross-junction connecting Thomson, Newton, and Moulmein roads has also been reconfigured into 2 T-junctions, changing how commuters move through the area.
Progress may seem slow, but building underground structures in an established neighbourhood is no easy feat. After all those years of construction, the Novena stretch along the NSC road tunnel from Lentor Avenue to East Coast Parkway is targeted to open in 2029. Once the road tunnel opens, surface streets will be progressively redesigned with more space for public transport, pedestrians, cyclists, and community uses.
NSC construction along Sembawang Road, taken in March 2026.
Image credit: @translas_lioncity_n12 via Instagram
Yishun and Sembawang are also directly in the path of the NSC’s construction, right where the northern viaduct will be built.
Props to the residents in these neighbourhoods, who have had to put up with years of construction, from the installation of viaduct columns and foundation works to road widening and temporary traffic arrangements. These works are especially visible along major roads linking Sembawang, Yishun, and Lentor.
The bulk of the disruption is expected to continue until the northern viaduct opens in 2027, although smaller finishing and road-reinstatement works may carry on after that.
Artist’s impression of “Housing By The Woods” estate in Woodlands.
Image credit: HDB
Woodlands is seeing several major developments going on at once, so residents aren’t imagining the endless slew of construction in the area.
The one most Singaporeans are looking forward to is the Singapore-Johor Bahru RTS Link, which will connect Woodlands North to Johor Bahru’s Bukit Chagar Station. Its operations are targeted to begin at the end of 2026, with the train journey between the 2 stations expected to cut travel time down to only 5 minutes. This is part of the larger Woodlands Gateway project, which will turn Woodlands into a mega hub merging business, lifestyle, and wellness.
The completion of the northern end of the NSC will also quicken the notoriously long travel time between Woodlands and the city centre.
On top of that, HDB has begun rolling out about 4,000 flats under its “Housing by the Woods” concept. The 1st project, 1,148-unit Woodlands North Grove, was launched in July 2025 beside Admiralty Park. This means more opportunities for Singaporeans who have their eyes on new BTO flats.
Image credit: URA
It’s the NSC, again, making the roads in Bishan seem to change as often as the weather. This is because the NSC’s underground section passes through the Marymount Road area.
In 2018, LTA awarded contracts for the stretch between Toa Payoh Rise and Marymount Lane, kicking off a series of major works, including deep tunnel excavation, new entrance and exit ramps, utility diversions, temporary roads, and repeated traffic realignments. Marymount Flyover has also been closed since 2023 and is expected to stay shut until the NSC is completed.
The NSC section involving the Bishan-Marymount area is targeted to open in 2029. Surface roads will then be progressively reworked to prioritise buses, walking, cycling, and community spaces.
Beyond the existing NSC works around Marymount, Bishan Town Centre is also earmarked for a longer-term transformation under the URA Master Plan 2025. Dubbed Bishan 2.0, the plans will gradually reshape the town centre with more workplaces, better transport links, and new public spaces.
Image credit: JTC
NSC this, NSC that – here’s something different.
Punggol has spent decades transforming from a new housing estate to a major regional hub, but it’s not done yet.
As relatively older estates and their residents settle down, there are works for new housing precincts still underway, along with the continuous development of the Punggol Digital District. The Punggol Digital District is a 50ha smart and sustainable business park including the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) in its premises. It has been opening progressively since 2024 and is designed as a hub for industries such as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and robotics.
Construction is also underway for the CRL-Punggol Extension. When it opens around 2032, the fully underground extension will connect Punggol and Riviera directly to Elias and Pasir Ris, making cross-island journeys more convenient.
Map of the Cross Island Line with its CRL-Punggol extension.
Image credit: LTA
Speaking of the CRL, its 1st phase is targeted for completion in 2030. Phase 1 will include stations serving Tampines North, Pasir Ris and Loyang, with Pasir Ris eventually becoming an interchange between the East-West Line, CRL Phase 1, and the CRL-Punggol Extension. The CRL-Punggol extension is aimed to be completed in 2032.
Loyang has plenty going on too. Besides ongoing CRL works, the area is getting the new Loyang Viaduct, targeted for 2028, along with wider road upgrades slated for 2030. These form part of the Changi Northern Corridor project, which aims to ease congestion, improve connectivity, and support the growth of Changi’s aviation, industrial, and logistics hubs.
Image credit: Wikipedia
On to the next phase of the CRL, Phase 2, which will feature new underground stations including Turf City, King Albert Park, Maju and Clementi, the last of which is also on the East-West Line.
The King Albert Park station will connect to the Downtown Line and become Singapore’s deepest underground MRT station at 50m deep.
Works for the CRL Phase 2 stations began progressively in 2024 and officially broke ground in July 2025, with a target to begin passenger service in 2032.
Image credit: Wikipedia
West Coast residents are finally getting an MRT station – but first comes several years of digging.
Current works include excavation, ground stabilisation, and phased traffic and utility diversions. These are especially complex because the site contains both soft marine clay and hard sedimentary rock. After these works, passenger service on the CRL Phase 2 will begin around 2032.
Construction site of Bukit Batok West MRT Station.
Image credit: Wikipedia
Tengah is still a work in progress, with the new town slowly taking shape as an HDB estate blending housing with lifestyle amenities. There’ll be new BTO flats to look forward to, alongside new roads, schools, parks, and public transport infrastructure. Nearby Bukit Batok West is also seeing works for its upcoming Jurong Region Line (JRL) station.
Fun fact: The JRL is Singapore’s 7th MRT line and its 1st fully elevated one. It will connect Tengah, Jurong West, and Nanyang Technological University (NTU), and is set to open in 3 stages, starting from Stage 1 around mid-2028. LTA currently lists Stage 2 for 2028 and Stage 3 for 2029, although their opening dates remain subject to further updates.
25 stations sit along the JRL, with Boon Lay, Choa Chu Kang, and Jurong East stations connecting to other MRT lines. This includes the additional JS2A station in Tengah, which is targeted to serve future residential districts from the mid-2030s.
Artist’s impression of Changi Airport Terminal 5.
Image credit: Changi Airport
Changi Airport may already feel enormous, but it’s about to get bigger.
Terminal 5 will join our 4 Changi Airport terminals as its newest member in a larger Changi East development programme spanning 1,080ha. The expansion will also bring improvements across the airport, including a 3-runway system, cargo zones, and extensive transport links.
Once T5 is up and running, there’ll be new shops, restaurants, and experiences to enjoy. Additionally, Aviation Park will also be getting an underground MRT Station on the CRL, rolling out in Phase 1.
While all the construction works currently going on can be frustrating at times, they are paving the way for a Singapore with better infrastructure and improved connectivity. As the noise, dust, and little inconveniences continue, we just have to bear with it for now – and look forward to the new transport links, developments, and improved spaces that will eventually take their place.
More about new developments in Singapore:
Cover image adapted from: Wikipedia, @translas_lioncity_n12 via Instagram
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