Initially announced as National University Hospital MRT station in 2003, the station was renamed through a public poll in 2005. Kent Ridge station opened on 8 October 2011 when Stages 4 and 5 of the CCL commenced operations. The station features Poetry Mix-Up by Mixed Reality Lab as part of the MRT network's Art-in-Transit programme.
History
The station was first announced as NUH station when the Circle Line (CCL) Stages 4 and 5 stations were revealed in 2003.[2][3] The contract for the construction of NUH station was awarded to Woh Hup (Pte) Ltd–Shanghai Tunnel Engineering Co. Ltd–Alpine Mayreder bau GmbH (WH-STEC-AM) Joint Venture in 2004. The S$399.91 million (US$236.6 million) contract included the construction of Holland, Buona Vista and One-North stations.[4][5] The construction of the 8.25-kilometre (5.13 mi) bored tunnels required the use of 6.35-metre (20.8 ft) diameter Earth pressure balance (EPB) machines.[4]
In 2005, the station name was finalised as Kent Ridge.[6][7] As announced by transport minister Lui Tuck Yew during his visit to the CCL4 and 5 stations on 1 August 2011,[8][9] the station began revenue service on 8 October of that year.[10][11]
Details
Kent Ridge station serves the CCL and is between the one-north and Haw Par Villa stations. The official station code is CC24.[12] Being part of the CCL, the station is operated by SMRT Trains.[13] Trains runs every 5 to 7 minutes in both directions daily.[14]
The station is located underneath the National University Hospital (NUH) Medical Centre near the junction of South Buona Vista Road and Kent Ridge Road.[15] The station is at the east of National University of Singapore (NUS) campus.[16] Other landmarks include Singapore Science Park I and Kent Ridge Park.[17] The station serves NUS internal bus shuttle services that connects the station to other areas of the NUS campus.[18]
The station is wheelchair accessible. A tactile system, consisting of tiles with rounded or elongated raised studs, guides visually impaired commuters through the station,[19] with dedicated tactile routes that connect the station entrances to the platforms.[20] Wider fare gates allow easier access for wheelchair users into the station.[20]
Commissioned as part of the Art-in-Transit programme, Poetry Mix-Up is a multimedia work installed by Mixed Reality Lab of NUS and is displayed at Kent Ridge MRT station. Commuters at the station are able to generate a poem via a SMS message, which will then be displayed on a screen situated at the station's lift shaft.[21] The artwork installation is intended to remind commuters to be more aware of their surroundings especially when using mobile devices, while at the same time aiming to revive poetic expression.[22]