History of Choa Chu Kang Bus Services

Introduction:

Choa Chu Kang is one of Singapore’s latest satellite towns developed since the late 1980s, located in the north-western region of the island. To cater to the increasing population in the developing public housing estate, SBS gradually introduced new trunk services and extended the routes of existing trunk services from the adjacent areas of Bukit Batok and Clementi, as well as providing several feeder services that connected the town’s neighbourhoods with the town centre.

While there was no specific bus plan implemented by SBS, Choa Chu Kang Bus Interchange serves as the main transport hub for bus services and the MRT in the housing estate, opening its doors on 8th April 1990 at Choa Chu Kang Loop. The current interim bus interchange has been operational since 16th December 2018, replacing the original bus interchange, which was demolished to make way for the construction of the Jurong Region Line (JRL).

Pre-Interchange Opening (1988 – 1990):

Before the development of Choa Chu Kang New Town, the area where the housing estate occupies today was mainly served by long distance trunk services along Choa Chu Kang Road.

In July 1988, SBS introduced its 1st bus routes in Choa Chu Kang, with the route extension for Bus Service 75 from Clementi, and the launch of former Bus Service 185 to Shenton Way. Both bus services operated from an interim roadside terminus along Teck Whye Avenue, which catered to existing residents of the small Teck Whye housing estate before it became part of Choa Chu Kang New Town. This was on top of Bus Service 172 between Lim Chu Kang & Shenton Way, which served parts of the new town along Choa Chu Kang Road (currently reconfigured as Choa Chu Kang Avenue 1 & part of Choa Chu Kang Way).

Subsequently, Bus Service 179 was also extended from Bukit Batok, connecting the new Choa Chu Kang estate with Bukit Timah, Orchard Road and Chinatown.

With the opening of Choa Chu Kang MRT station, the bus terminal was briefly relocated to Choa Chu Kang Avenue 4 on 11th March 1990, providing Choa Chu Kang residents with more convenient access to the MRT network. On the same day, temporary shuttle Bus Service SS7 was launched, linking the residents of Woodlands and Bukit Panjang to the new MRT station prior to the opening of the Woodlands MRT Extension.

On 8th April 1990, the new Choa Chu Kang Bus Interchange was opened, offering a pleasant environment for bus passengers to transfer and wait for their buses. All 4 trunk services were relocated to the new interchange.

Summary of Post-Amendment Bus Routes in Choa Chu Kang (as of 8 Apr 1990):

• 75: Choa Chu Kang – Bukit Panjang – Holland Road – Robinson Road – Marina Centre
• 179: Choa Chu Kang – Bukit Batok – Bukit Timah Road – Orchard Road – New Bridge Road
• 185: Choa Chu Kang – Bukit Batok – Queenstown – Havelock Road – Shenton Way
• SS7: Choa Chu Kang – Bukit Panjang – Woodlands

More detailed information for operational bus services can be found in the Historical Routes of Bus Services article.