Boon Lay MRT station
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Boon Lay MRT station is a Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) station on the East West line (EWL) in Jurong West, Singapore. Situated along Boon Lay Way, the station is integrated with the Boon Lay Bus Interchange and Jurong Point as part of the Boon Lay Integrated Transport Hub. Other landmarks surrounding the station include the SAFRA Clubhouse and Jurong West Public Library.
Initially announced as Jurong West MRT station, the station was briefly shelved before the decision was reversed in August 1987. The EWL station opened on 6 July 1990 and was the last station to be completed on the initial MRT network. It was the terminus of the EWL until the line's extension to Template:MRT station station in 2009. In May 2018, it was announced that the station would be an interchange with the Jurong Region line when the first stage opens in 2027.
HistoryEdit
The station, then named Jurong West, was included in the early plans of the MRT network in May 1982,<ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Cbignore</ref> and would have been built as part of Phase II of the initial MRT system.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In March 1986, however, the MRT Corporation (MRTC) said the station was shelved due to delays with Housing Development Board's (HDB) development plans for the area.<ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Cbignore</ref><ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Cbignore</ref> The telecommunications cables and antenna farms in the area had to be relocated to facilitate the expansion of Jurong West new town, which was estimated to take six years.<ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Cbignore</ref> As the HDB decided to proceed with development plans after an agreement with Telecoms for them to vacate the site,<ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Cbignore</ref><ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Cbignore</ref> the MRTC decided on 7 August 1987 to construct the station.<ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Cbignore</ref>
The contract for the construction of Boon Lay station and Template:Convert of viaducts was awarded to a joint venture between RSEA International and Hock Lian Seng Engineering in May 1988 for S$34.19Template:Nbspmillion (US$Template:To USD million in 2021Template:Inflation/fn<ref name="IMF">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>).<ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Cbignore</ref> The last viaduct beam between Boon Lay and Lakeside was laid on 12 August 1989, marking the end of viaduct works for the initial MRT system.<ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Cbignore</ref><ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Cbignore</ref> On 10 March 1990, it was announced that the station would open on 6 July.<ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Cbignore</ref> Before the station's opening, the Boon Lay Bus Interchange opened on 1 July to allow more convenient transfers between transport modes.<ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Cbignore</ref> The completion of the initial MRT system and the station's opening was celebrated at a ceremony in Westin Stamford at Raffles City.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Cbignore</ref><ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Cbignore</ref>
In 2002, new drop-offs and pick-up points were built at the station as many people were parking or stopping along Jurong West Street 64.<ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Cbignore</ref> In 2012, half-height platform screen doors was installed at this station as part of the Land Transport Authority's (LTA) programme to improve safety in MRT stations.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="raymondspeech">Template:Cite press release</ref><ref name=":2">Template:Cite news</ref> High-volume low-speed fans were installed above the platforms of the station between 2012 and 2013 as part of a national programme to improve ventaliation at station platforms.<ref name="Enhancing Comfort">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Boon Lay ExtensionEdit
Plans for an MRT extension to Tuas or the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) was first announced in 1994.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The Template:Convert Boon Lay MRT Extension (BLE) was finalised in December 2004 to serve increased transport demand in Jurong Industrial Estate.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Following its completion on 28 February 2009,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> it was reported that the BLE had relieved crowding at the station as some private bus operators had shifted operations to Joo Koon station.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Jurong Region lineEdit
On 9 May 2018, the LTA announced Boon Lay station will interchange with the proposed Template:Convert Jurong Region line (JRL).<ref name="Lim 2018">Template:Cite news</ref> The station will be constructed as part of Stage 1 (JRL West), consisting of 10 stations from Choa Chu Kang to Bahar Junction and two branches to Template:MRT station and this station. This stage was expected to be completed in 2026.<ref name="LTA 2021">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Auto 2018">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> However, restrictions on construction due to the COVID-19 pandemic has led to delays, with the completion date pushed to 2027.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
The contract for the design and construction of Boon Lay JRL station and associated viaducts was awarded to China Communications Construction Company Limited (Singapore Branch) for S$172 million (US$Template:ToUSD million) in February 2020.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="t938">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="d031">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
To facilitate the JRL construction, road diversion works for Jurong West Street 64 began in June 2022,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> alongside the relocation of a bicycle park near the station.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Piling works were carried out from August to December 2022.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> A temporary protection enclosure was installed over the EWL tracks.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The assembly of viaduct segments commenced in February 2023.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Station detailsEdit
Boon Lay station serves the EWL and is between the Template:MRT Station and Template:MRT Station stations. The station code is EW27.<ref name="LTA system map">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Being part of the EWL, the station is operated by SMRT Trains.<ref name="LTA getting around">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Boon Lay station will be a future interchange with the JRL, located between the Template:MRT Station and Template:MRT Station stations.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The EWL station is located along Boon Lay Way while the JRL station is along Jurong West Street 64.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
The station is integrated with the Boon Lay Bus Interchange and Jurong Point Shopping Mall as part of the Boon Lay Integrated Transport Hub.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Landmarks surrounding the station include Jurong West Community Building, Jurong West Sports Complex, SAFRA Clubhouse (Jurong) and Jurong West Public Library.<ref name="SMRT Journeys exits">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
There is also a mural on display as part of SMRT's Comic Connect, which is a public art showcase of heritage-themed murals by the train operator. The mural for this station was created by local artist Muhammed Nurman bin Selamat and primarily depicts businessman Chew Boon Lay, which is the namesake of the area.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=":0">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It also depicts rubber plantations in the area during the early 20th century, the Tuas Pek Kong Keng Temple, the headquarters of ST Engineering, and Boon Lay Shopping Centre.<ref name=":0" />