SINGAPORE - The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has awarded the contract to build a new platform at Tanah Merah Station and viaducts for about $325 million.

Local contractor Lum Chang Building Contractors was given the contract, LTA said in a statement on Wednesday (Oct 26).

The new platform will allow new tracks to be added - speeding up the journey to and from Changi Airport.

As part of the contract, Lum Chang Building Contractors will also work on extending the East-West Line train tracks to connect the new four-in-one East Coast Integrated Depot at Changi. The depot will house trains from the East-West, Downtown and Thomson-East Coast Lines, as well as buses.

LTA said Lum Chang Building Contractors has experience in infrastructure and building projects in Singapore and overseas. For instance, LTA projects the firm was involved in are the building of Bukit Panjang Station of Downtown Line 2, as well as Paya Lebar, Dakota, Mountbatten, Stadium and Nicoll Highway stations of the Circle Line.

Construction works for the additional platform are expected to start by the end of this year and targeted to be completed in 2024.

LTA said it will work with the contractors to implement dust and noise control measures on site during construction.

Noise barriers and privacy screens will be installed along some stretches of the new viaduct to mitigate the impact on residents living close to the station.

The authority said it will also work closely with stakeholders to "minimise any inconvenience caused".

The new platform at Tanah Merah is expected to make journeys to the Singapore Expo and Changi Airport faster.

Currently, commuters must change trains at Tanah Merah, where the East-West Line divides for either Pasir Ris or the Expo and the airport. As only one track is available for the latter two destinations, trains going to and from them must wait for the train at the station to depart before entering.

The new platform will allow for two new middle tracks to cater for these services and leave the two outer tracks free for trains travelling between Joo Koon and Pasir Ris.

With this arrangement, trains arriving at Tanah Merah station from the Expo and airport, as well as those departing the station for the two destinations, can do so at shorter intervals. This means faster travel to the Expo and the Airport.