Changi Airport Terminal 5 contracts worth S$4.75 billion awarded
The substructure contract valued at S$3.8 billion was awarded as a joint venture (JV) between the Singapore branch of China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) and Obayashi Singapore.
The JV will involve the construction of the foundation and basements of the T5 main passenger terminal and ground transportation centre, as well as a portion of the tunnels linking T5 and Terminal 2 (T2). The substructure site covers about 140 hectares with a basement depth of up to 28 m – equivalent to about 5,200 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
Previously, CCCC developed two aircraft taxiways connecting runways two and three of Changi Airport's three-runway system as the main contractor, as well as two underground tunnel sections for vehicular traffic underneath the taxiways.
As for Obayashi Singapore, it has undertaken major construction projects in Singapore since 1965. These include the 20-year East Coast reclamation project, the Changi Airport air traffic control tower and Jewel Changi Airport. Most recently, it completed the inter-terminal tunnels linking T2 and T5 for the automated people mover and baggage-handling systems.
A separate contract of S$950 million was awarded to Hwa Seng Builder for airside infrastructure works. These include the development of remote aircraft stands, connecting taxi lanes and ancillary support buildings.
Ong Chee Chiau, CAG's managing director for Changi East, said: 'With a planned capacity of about 50 million passengers annually, T5 represents one of the most complex construction projects in Singapore. Together with our partners, we will ensure that the high standards which define Changi Airport can be replicated or even surpassed in the development works of T5.'
The construction of T5 will start in the first half of 2025, and is expected to be completed in the mid-2030s.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Asia News Network
2 days ago
- Asia News Network
Malaysia's railway setback linked to site theft
June 23, 2025 PETALING JAYA – The target to complete the much-touted East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project by December next year is facing an unexpected obstacle – theft of signalling equipment and communication cables. The contractors have a fight on their hands with over 1,200m of signalling cables reported stolen along its alignment, with 81 outdoor transformer units also removed. According to Malaysia Rail Link (MRL) Sdn Bhd, the thieves used non-professional cutting tools to get the job done hastily, and even came with transportation. While cable theft or vandalism is a common problem, thefts along the ECRL track are distressing as the cables and transformers are custom-made, with usual delivery time taking up to six months. The 665km ECRL, which connects the Klang Valley to the East Coast, is scheduled to be completed by December next year. It will carry both passengers and freight from the west coast of the country to the east and vice- versa, with speeds of up to 160kph for passenger trains and 80kph for freight trains. The project, which began in 2017, has recorded an overall progress of 82.45%. MRL is the special purpose entity to execute the ECRL project. MRL CEO Datuk Seri Darwis Abdul Razak said there were at least two known instances of such thefts along the ECRL alignment. 'The thefts may delay the project delivery. 'We were very much looking forward to the testing and commissioning phase in June next year,' he added. Since the start of the Communications, Information and Signaling (CIS) systems installation at the ECRL KotaSAS Station in Pahang this March, thieves have struck at no less than seven locations – Paya Besar, Cherating and Kuantan Port City (all in Pahang); Chukai, Dungun and Kemasik (Terengganu) and Pasir Puteh in Kelantan. At the areas near the KotaSAS Station, the contractor involved, China Communications Construction ECRL Project (CCCC-ECRL) found that some fibre optic cables were left behind after being cut. Fibre optic cables are said to be worthless in the scrap market as it does not contain metal. However, the 1,200m of signalling cable which were stolen did contain some metal. Darwis said MRL will meet with the respective state police chiefs to discuss comprehensive asset protection measures and also raise the issue with the relevant ministers. Observers note that protecting trackside assets was difficult as cables were often placed in concrete troughs, with thieves just needing to remove the cover to gain quick access to the cable bundle. Darwis said CCCC-ECRL will bear the losses from the thefts as the project has not been handed over to the government yet. 'That said, we as the project owner will also do our part to curb this problem. The ECRL project team is working closely with police to engage those in the scrap collection or recycling business,' he said. 'We have engaged security personnel to patrol the areas and will install CCTVs at critical areas, although it is not easy to keep watch over such a long alignment,' he said. It is learnt that the on-ground portions of the entire alignment will be eventually fenced up to prevent intrusions. 'In the meantime, we appeal to the public to help us by quickly alerting authorities if they spot suspicious activities along the alignment,' Darwis said. Yuslizar Daud, former head of the Land Public Transport Commission's (now defunct SPAD) Rail Division, said these types of theft were tough to overcome. 'It happens all over the world. In the United Kingdom, Network Rail lost almost £20mil (RM114.4mill) a year due to cable theft. 'Here, thieves are very smart and well-organised, with intricate networks. They are always 100 steps ahead of the operators,' he said. Yuslizar said the only way to effectively resolve the problem was for all rail operators to come together and share intelligence, resources and data. CCCC-ECRL managing director Deng Bo said theft or vandalism of rail infrastructure was a serious crime in China as it threatened the safety of rail operations, and hence, public safety. Officials said if equipment theft continues unabated, Malaysia will suffer losses as it will have to bear half the operational losses, if any, when the trains start running by early 2027.

Straits Times
5 days ago
- Straits Times
Japan Akita dog facility goes viral amid inbound tourism surge
Designated as a natural monument in 1931, the Akita is Japan's only large dog breed and was originally bred for hunting. PHOTO: AFP A facility for Akita dogs in north-eastern Japan has gone viral for its videos and photos of the fluffy breed on social media, drawing fans from abroad amid a boom in inbound tourism. Since its social media posts gained traction during the coronavirus pandemic, the facility in Odate, Akita Prefecture, has amassed over 230,000 followers across X, Instagram and YouTube. The Akita Inu Hall, which features a museum showcasing the breed's history and natural habitat, was opened in 1978 to mark the 50th anniversary of the Akita Inu Preservation Society's founding. Three Akita dogs take turns greeting visitors each day. Designated as a natural monument in 1931, the Akita is Japan's only large dog breed and was originally bred for hunting. The museum also features an exhibit on Hachiko, the loyal Akita known for waiting for his deceased owner for years near Tokyo's Shibuya Station. Odate, Hachiko's hometown, is proud of its connection to the dog. Visitors can access exhibit information in English and Chinese via QR codes. In 2018, the facility drew more than 20,000 visitors after the preservation group gifted an Akita puppy to Russian Olympic figure skating champion Alina Zagitova, who named the dog 'Masaru'. However, visitor numbers fell to the thousands during the pandemic. It returned to the spotlight after it began posting daily videos and photos on social media, including an image of a staff member carrying a giant four-month-old Akita that drew 38,000 reposts. The number of visitors climbed to about 32,000 last year, helped by a rise in foreign tourists, particularly from Taiwan, following the launch of charter flights between the island and Akita in 2023. KYODO NEWS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.

Straits Times
6 days ago
- Straits Times
Underground tank to prevent flooding in low-lying Jalan Besar area completed
Located next to Rochor Canal, the Syed Alwi Pumping Station is designed to divert storm water from the upstream of Rochor Canal into an underground tank. ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO SINGAPORE – The low-lying Jalan Besar area and parts of Little India are now better protected against floods with the completion of a new pumping station with an underground tank along Syed Alwi Road. Located next to Rochor Canal, the Syed Alwi Pumping Station is designed to divert storm water from the upstream of Rochor Canal into an underground tank. The water is then pumped out of the tank – which is able to hold about 9,300 cubic m of water, or about the total capacity of four Olympic-size pools – into a downstream section of Rochor Canal during and after storms. This ensures that storm drains, which collect rainwater run-off from the Jalan Besar area, are not overwhelmed during intense rain when the water level in the canal is high. The completion of the underground tank was announced by Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu in a recorded address at the 2025 Singapore International Water Week Spotlight conference on June 23. 'As ground raising is not possible in (Jalan Besar), the dual-purpose storage and pumping station was conceptualised as an alternative solution to enhance flood resilience,' she said in the video, which was aired at the event held at the Singapore Expo. National water agency PUB, which built the $33 million pumping station, said it 'forms part of PUB's diverse storm water management infrastructure to strengthen Singapore's flood resilience as climate change brings about more frequent and intense rainfall'. The fully automated pumping station, which was completed in June, also has floodgates at the Syed Alwi Road drains that shut to prevent backflow of water from Rochor Canal into the Jalan Besar area. Construction of the Syed Alwi Pumping Station began in 2021, with most of the costs covered by Singapore's Coastal and Flood Protection Fund. The fund, which was set up with an initial injection of $5 billion in 2020, received an additional injection of $5 billion from Budget 2025, to fund both coastal protection and drainage infrastructure. Jalan Besar is a low-lying area that experienced flooding from the 2000s to 2010s. The last time it experienced a flooding incident was on Nov 13, 2014, said PUB. Among the efforts made to combat flooding in the area were the upgrading of drains along Syed Alwi Road and raising road levels in 2014. Rochor Canal, which runs along Sungei Road and Rochor Canal Road towards Marina Reservoir, was also widened and deepened in 2015 to increase its drainage capacity. These measures enhanced flood protection in nearby areas such as Veerasamy Road, Hindoo Road and Desker Road. However, expanding drainage infrastructure and raising ground levels are not feasible for all sites, said Ms Gayathri Kalyanaraman, senior principal engineer for drainage planning at PUB's catchment and waterways department. 'The low-lying Jalan Besar area illustrates this challenge,' she said. It is not possible to raise roads and buildings in the area, which has many heritage buildings such as Masjid Angullia and the shophouse at 75 Maude Road. This is where the new pumping station comes in – enhancing the area's flood resilience. Storm water will accumulate in the underground tank, which is 11m high and has the capacity of four Olympic-sized pools and can hold about 9,300 cu m of water. ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO When the water level in the tank reaches 4.5m, the pumps will be automatically activated to discharge water into Rochor Canal via two outlets. When the water level is below 4m, the water will be discharged by two other smaller pumps into the canal. ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO Two other pumping stations, built in the 1990s, enhance flood resilience in the low-lying Tanjong Katong estate. Despite its efforts to enhance Singapore's drainage infrastructure, 'absolute protection is not possible, and building community resilience is key', said PUB. Stakeholders such as building owners and contractors can ensure proper maintenance of internal drainage systems, and implement flood protection measures according to stipulated guidelines to better protect their properties, it added. Meanwhile, the Syed Alwi Pumping Station has brought more verdancy to the Rochor area, with features like a green roof and green wall. Coming up next to it is an open plaza that will provide a recreational space integrated with nearby Build-To-Order development King George's Heights, which is under construction. As part of efforts to protect Singapore's coasts from sea-level rise, the Republic has divided its coastline into eight stretches, and is conducting separate studies on them to determine the most suitable ways to protect each stretch from future rising seas. Where possible, these solutions will be multifunctional, enhancing the environment and supporting better land use, said Ms Fu. She added that PUB will soon launch a risk assessment study to evaluate eight offshore islands' vulnerability to sea-level rise. This is an expansion of the work being done on the mainland, and more details will be revealed in a few days. Additional reporting by Shabana Begum Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.