Singapore is studying whether it is feasible to build undersea tunnels linking the mainland to Pulau Tekong, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said during the National Day Rally on Aug 23. He described the proposed tunnels as a major engineering undertaking that would take decades and require long-term planning, resources and investment across many terms of government. The motivation is practical. Pulau Tekong has no land link to the mainland, unlike other outer islands such as Jurong Island. Today, access relies on boats, and Mr Wong said recruits may one day have an easier journey if a tunnel proceeds.
The core constraint, as Mr Wong explained, is that bridges may be the “obvious solution” but would cut across busy shipping channels. His summary captured the engineering intent: if Singapore cannot go over the sea, it will try to go under it. While Singapore has experience building underground road tunnels, Mr Wong said it has never built undersea tunnels of this scale. This is why the Pulau Tekong undersea tunnel Singapore discussion is currently positioned as a feasibility study rather than a confirmed build, with the end goal of bringing outer islands much closer to the rest of the country.
Reclamation, Training Space, and Options for Civilian Use
The tunnel study sits alongside more land planning on Tekong itself. Mr Wong said further reclamation works at the southern end of Pulau Tekong are in the pipeline. He said this will create more training space for the Singapore Armed Forces and leave another 500ha of land for civilian use, describing the area as about the size of Toa Payoh. He also stressed that decisions on future civilian uses do not need to be made now. What matters, he said, is keeping space available so Singapore retains valuable options for the future.
Tekong’s shape has already changed over time. Mr Wong noted the island was once two islands, Tekong Besar and Tekong Kechil. Land has been reclaimed around Tekong Besar, and a polder near Tekong Kechil has been completed. A proposed tunnel has been discussed for years as well. Yahoo News Singapore reported that plans for a vehicular connection between mainland Singapore and Pulau Tekong have been considered since Concept Plan 1991. Wikipedia also states the tunnel was first proposed in August 2026 and says it might span about 1.5 kilometres, while noting that, as of 2026, there is still no direct connection and SAF personnel travel by ferry.
The Tekong tunnel study was announced among other long-term infrastructure ideas. The Business Times reported Mr Wong also spoke about forming a Western island by merging Semakau, Bukom, Pulau Sudong and other islands, plus planned enhancements for Sentosa and transformation at neighbouring Pulau Brani. He also highlighted Long Island, where preparatory works for land reclamation off East Coast Park will begin in end-2026, describing it as another new waterfront for future generations. In that wider context, the Tekong tunnels are presented not as a standalone fix, but as one piece of decades-long planning shaped by engineering limits and competing demands on sea space.
Why is Singapore studying an undersea tunnel to Pulau Tekong instead of a bridge?
What did PM Lawrence Wong say about Singapore’s experience with undersea tunnels?
How much land is being set aside for civilian use on Pulau Tekong?
How long could the Pulau Tekong undersea tunnel project take in Singapore?
When did discussions about linking mainland Singapore to Pulau Tekong first appear in planning?
