The underground Woodleigh bus interchange in the Bidadari housing estate is slated for completion by the end of 2024, missing its expected completion date by about three years.

The Housing and Development Board (HDB) told The Straits Times that the delay was due to “significant engineering challenges” and the Covid-19 pandemic.

Housing units ready, but not amenities

About 85 per cent done now, the interchange is built to be part of the Woodleigh Village integrated development, which comprises 330 HDB flats and is linked to a hawker centre and Woodleigh MRT station.

Launched for sale in November 2016, the final residential blocks were completed in November 2022, and flat occupants collected the keys soon after.

Difficult to construction

According to an HDB spokesperson, the construction of the Woodleigh Village project posed challenges as it had to integrate the underground bus interchange, the existing Woodleigh MRT station, and a new hawker centre.

This resulted in delays that stemmed from different contractors having to coordinate to skirt or divert water, gas and electricity pipes, sewers and fibre optic cables, so as not to interrupt these existing underground services during construction.

Building and excavation works underground to construct the interchange and other facilities, such as the pedestrian underpass to the MRT station, could only be carried out following the diversion.

There was a need to ensure that the nearby MRT structures and vital service pipes were not affected, the spokesperson added.

HDB also said it prioritised the construction of flats over common precinct areas so homebuyers could move in sooner.

The opening of the Woodleigh Village Hawker Centre has also been delayed.

It was projected to open in the second half of 2023 previously.

It is slated to be ready in the first half of 2024.

All Woodleigh district flats completed

So far, more than 70 per cent, or 6,418 of the 8,872 flats in Bidadari, have been delivered, HDB said in May 2023.

The remaining 2,454 flats will be completed by 2025.

The Woodleigh district is the first in Bidadari to have all its flats completed.

This includes the three Build-To-Order projects with a total of 2,685 flats, including 312 rental units.

Top photo via Google Maps