needed for the possible route has already been reserved by the government. Finalisation of rail connection The proposal for the rail link to Changi Airport was revisited in August 1994, following a surge in airport usage that exceeded previous projections (10% compared to 6–7% annually). With plans for a new terminal to cater to the passenger growth, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) had urged the MRTC to reconsider the proposal for the rail link, as the new roads serving the new terminal might be insufficient. It was suggested for the new link to be built along with the new terminal. The airport link will branch off from the EWL at Tanah Merah station, although there were not yet plans for intermediate stops. After another feasibility study by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) in March 1996, finalised plans for the branch were announced by deputy prime minister Lee Hsien Loong on 15 November 1996. The branch, projected to be completed in 2001, will run from Tanah Merah station and have an intermediate stop at Somapah to serve the Changi Business Park and the exhibition centre. There were no plans to extend the branch towards the cargo and engineering complexes due to low demand in the area. Construction and opening Contract 504 for the construction of Changi Airport MRT station and its associated tunnels was awarded to a joint venture between Kumagai-Gumi Co and Sembawang Engineering and Construction in October 1998 for . The contract includes the construction of Changi Airport station and associated tunnels, a new baggage tunnel between Terminals 2 and 3 and a new vehicular underpass to serve Terminal 3. This project was a joint effort which combines Japanese technology and experience with local knowledge of subcontractor availability and supplier availability, due to the challenges of the construction of the station. A groundbreaking ceremony was held on 29 January 1999. In the speech by then-communications minister Mah Bow Tan at the ceremony, he highlighted the challenges of the construction of the station, which would require close cooperation between various parties such as the Land Transport Authority (LTA), the CAAS and the contractors. For the construction of Changi Airport station, different methods of deep excavations using various ground support systems were adopted. The construction work involved the challenge of deep excavation works right next to nearby developments such as the existing Terminal 2 structures. In addition, close monitoring