North-South Corridor opening delayed two years amid construction challenges

The North-South Corridor will be progressively opened from 2029, instead of 2027.

Published Sep 17, 2026, 05:00 PM

Updated Sep 17, 2026, 05:01 PM

The North-South Corridor highway opening is delayed by two years to 2029-2031 due to difficult ground conditions and complex construction challenges.

Construction involves complex tunnelling near the operational North-South MRT line, requiring specialised methods like rock blasting and ground stabilisation.

Once completed, the corridor will ease traffic congestion, improve northern region access, and prioritise public transport, pedestrians, and cyclists with more community spaces.

SINGAPORE – The 21.5km highway linking the northern towns to the city will be delayed by two years due to unexpectedly difficult ground conditions that require more complex construction work.

The North-South Corridor (NSC) viaduct, which runs from Admiralty West to Lentor Avenue, will now open in stages from 2029, instead of 2027.

The tunnel section from Lentor Avenue to East Coast Parkway will open in phases from 2031 instead of 2029, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said on Sept 17.

From 2028, roads, footpaths and nearby areas affected by construction works will open in stages, and noise barriers will start coming down.

Pedestrian overhead bridges affected by the construction of the tunnel section will go back up from 2029.

With more than 90 per cent of the foundation works for the 8.8km viaduct and the 12.3km tunnel completed, works along the viaduct will focus on installing above-ground structures like columns, crossheads and viaduct segments.

As for the tunnel, most of the work will carry on underground from 2027, and help ease disruption to surrounding roads, LTA said.

The decision to push back opening dates by two years stems from delays at critical stages of construction, which had a knock-on effect on later stages of construction, LTA added.

This is despite efforts to carry on with works safely and optimise construction methods, it said.

In a press briefing on Sept 8, LTA detailed some of the challenges it faced as the project entered its most complex engineering phase.

The southbound tunnel during a site visit to the Novena section of the North-South Corridor on Sept 15. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM

The southbound tunnel during a site visit to the Novena section of the North-South Corridor on Sept 15.

These include the ground conditions in Gambas Avenue and Woodlands Avenue 8, where the viaduct is located. Some piles had to be driven deeper than planned to get past the unanticipated layer of broken rock beneath the surface.

In Novena, broken rock and underground water seepage required additional preparatory works, along with a different and more complex mining method to ensure that the construction would not put the North-South MRT line at risk. An MRT line that is in operation is located just 1m away from the NSC tunnels.

Works in the Thomson area were affected by harder-than-expected rock formations underground, requiring rock blasting and ground stabilisation works before excavation could proceed.

When asked if completion dates could change again, an LTA spokesman said construction is being closely monitored and LTA will continue to work with contractors to manage the remaining works and address challenges promptly.

As for the extra costs caused by the delay, that can be determined only after the project is completed, the spokesman added.

When asked how any cost overrun will be calculated, the spokesman said figures will be compared against information provided to tenderers during the tender process.

LTA added that it expects contractors to have taken into account the construction risks involved when pricing their bids.

The contractors can submit claims if the actual ground conditions differ from the baseline information provided. LTA will assess the claims and consider additional payment if they are found to be valid under the provisions of the contract.

On Sept 15, reporters were allowed access to a work site in Novena, and could view the stretch between Revenue House and Novena Square, where the NSC crosses the North-South MRT Line.

At this section, the northbound and southbound NSC tunnels are stacked, with the MRT line sandwiched between them.

While the southbound tunnel has been completed, tunnelling is still under way for the northbound tunnel that passes below the MRT line.

The North-South Corridor’s southbound tunnel (top) over-crossing and northbound tunnel (bottom) under-crossing the North-South MRT line at the Novena work site on Sept 15. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM

The North-South Corridor’s southbound tunnel (top) over-crossing and northbound tunnel (bottom) under-crossing the North-South MRT line at the Novena work site on Sept 15.

The northbound tunnel needs to be excavated in two stages because of the distinct ground conditions. The top half of the tunnel cuts through softer ground with water seeping in, while the bottom half is built by excavating through solid rock.

For the top half, large tubes are inserted into the ground and steel support frames are erected to stabilise the ground and prevent the soil from loosening.

After excavators have advanced the tunnel by around 2m, concrete is sprayed onto the exposed surface to stabilise the ground. Another set of steel frames is then installed before excavation continues.

Excavation of the top half of the tunnel is expected to finish by 2026, before work can begin on the bottom half. Controlled blasting will then be used to break the hard rock, as part of the mining work. This stage of the construction is projected to take up to 2028.

NSC construction works began in 2018, and were expected to end by 2026. However, the Covid-19 pandemic hit all building projects in Singapore, and the NSC end date was pushed back to 2029.

When completed, the NSC is expected to ease congestion on the Central Expressway and major arteries like Thomson Road and Marymount Road.

It will also widen access to upcoming developments in the northern region and link to key expressways like the Seletar Expressway, Pan-Island Expressway and East Coast Parkway.

With traffic being channelled away, the streets – in the future – will give priority to public transport, pedestrians and cyclists, while making more room for community spaces.

Lee Nian Tjoe is senior transport correspondent at The Straits Times, where he also oversees the Motoring section.

南北走廊将从 2029 年开始逐步开放，而不是原定的 2027 年。

发布于2026年9月17日下午5:00

更新于2026年9月17日下午5:01

由于地质条件恶劣和施工挑战复杂，南北走廊高速公路的开通时间推迟两年至 2029-2031 年。

施工涉及在运营中的南北地铁线附近进行复杂的隧道挖掘，需要采用岩石爆破和地面加固等特殊方法。

建成后，该走廊将缓解交通拥堵，改善北部地区的交通状况，并通过更多的社区空间优先考虑公共交通、行人和骑自行车的人。

新加坡——连接北部城镇与市区的21.5公里高速公路将因意想不到的复杂地质条件而延期两年，这需要更复杂的施工。

从海军部西到伦多大道的南北走廊高架桥（NSC）将从 2029 年开始分阶段开放，而不是原定的 2027 年。

陆路交通管理局（LTA）9月17日表示，从伦多大道到东海岸公园大道的隧道段将从2031年开始分阶段开放，而不是原定的2029年。

从 2028 年起，受施工影响的道路、人行道和附近区域将分阶段开放，隔音屏障也将开始拆除。

受隧道施工影响的人行天桥将于 2029 年恢复通行。

8.8公里高架桥和12.3公里隧道的基础工程已完成90%以上，高架桥沿线的工程将集中于安装地面结构，如桥墩、横梁和高架桥段。

陆路交通管理局表示，隧道工程的大部分工作将从 2027 年开始在地下进行，这将有助于减轻对周边道路的干扰。

陆路交通管理局补充说，将开放日期推迟两年的决定源于关键施工阶段的延误，这给后续施工阶段带来了连锁反应。

声明称，尽管各方努力安全地继续施工并优化施工方法，但仍然出现了这种情况。

9月8日，陆路交通管理局在新闻发布会上详细介绍了该项目进入最复杂的工程阶段所面临的一些挑战。

9月15日，在对南北走廊诺维娜段进行现场考察期间，拍摄了南行隧道。（海峡时报摄影：林凯文）

9月15日，在对南北走廊诺维娜段进行现场考察期间，参观了南行隧道。

其中包括高架桥所在的甘巴斯大道和兀兰8道的地质条件。由于地表下意外发现碎石层，一些桩基不得不比原计划打得更深。

在诺维娜，由于岩石破碎和地下水渗漏，需要进行额外的准备工作，并采用一种不同的、更为复杂的采矿方法，以确保施工不会危及南北地铁线。一条正在运营的地铁线路距离南北隧道仅1米。

汤姆逊地区的工程受到地下岩层比预期更坚硬的影响，需要在开挖之前进行爆破和地面加固工程。

当被问及竣工日期是否可能再次更改时，陆路交通管理局发言人表示，施工情况正在密切监控中，陆路交通管理局将继续与承包商合作，管理剩余工程并及时解决遇到的挑战。

发言人补充说，至于延误造成的额外成本，只有在项目完成后才能确定。

当被问及如何计算超支费用时，发言人表示，相关数据将与招标过程中提供给投标人的信息进行比较。

陆路交通管理局补充说，他们希望承包商在投标报价时已经考虑到了施工过程中涉及的风险。

如果实际地质条件与提供的基准信息存在差异，承包商可以提出索赔。LTA将评估这些索赔，如果索赔符合合同条款，则考虑支付额外款项。

9 月 15 日，记者获准进入诺维娜的一个施工现场，并可以查看税务大楼和诺维娜广场之间的路段，国家安全委员会在此与南北地铁线相交。

在这一区域，南北向的国道隧道上下叠放，地铁线路夹在它们之间。

南向隧道已经完工，但穿过地铁线路下方的北向隧道仍在施工中。

9月15日，在诺维娜施工现场，南北走廊的南行隧道（上图）高架跨越南北地铁线，北行隧道（下图）则从南北地铁线下方穿过。（海峡时报摄影：林凯文）

9 月 15 日，在诺维娜施工现场，南北走廊的南行隧道（上）高架跨越南北地铁线，北行隧道（下）下穿南北地铁线。

由于地质条件特殊，北向隧道需要分两阶段开挖。隧道上半部分穿过较软的地层，且有水渗入；而下半部分则需开挖穿过坚硬的岩层。

上半部分，将大型管子插入地下，并竖起钢制支撑框架，以稳定地面并防止土壤松动。

挖掘机将隧道推进约2米后，会在裸露的地面上喷洒混凝土以稳定地基。之后，安装另一组钢框架，然后继续挖掘。

隧道上半部分的挖掘工作预计将于2026年完成，之后才能开始下半部分的施工。届时，将采用控制爆破法破碎坚硬的岩石，作为采矿作业的一部分。该阶段的建设预计将持续到2028年。

国家体育中心 (NSC) 的建设工程于 2018 年开始，原计划于 2026 年完工。然而，新冠疫情冲击了新加坡的所有建筑项目，NSC 的完工日期被推迟到 2029 年。

建成后，国家安全通道预计将缓解中央高速公路以及汤申路和玛丽蒙路等主要干道的交通拥堵。

它还将拓宽通往北部地区即将开发项目的通道，并连接到实里达高速公路、泛岛高速公路和东海岸公园大道等主要高速公路。

随着交通流量被分流，未来的街道将优先考虑公共交通、行人和骑自行车的人，同时为社区空间腾出更多空间。

李念祖是《海峡时报》的高级交通记者，同时负责汽车版块。