Singapore Sets 2026 Preparatory Works for Long Island Project
Singapore is moving its proposed Long Island coastal-defense project from planning toward physical marine works, with preparatory activity scheduled to begin from the end of 2026.
The first phase will take place in waters west of Bedok Jetty and cover approximately 570 hectares, according to the Urban Redevelopment Authority. The URA project page was updated September 11, 2026, while the announcement describing the works was issued June 30.
The timetable does not mean Singapore has begun, or finalized, the full reclamation. The preparatory works are intended to lay groundwork for a much larger project whose final land profile remains under development through technical studies, environmental review and public engagement.
What starts first
The initial works will involve removing seabed obstructions, constructing temporary sand bunds and carrying out sand infilling. The first-phase area will extend roughly 7 kilometers from east to west and up to 1 kilometer from north to south. Work areas will be at least 130 meters from the shoreline and marked with silt screens or floating barriers.
A second preparatory phase east of Bedok Jetty is expected to cover approximately 155 hectares. It will begin only after major sporting events, including the 2029 Southeast Asian Games, to preserve some sea space for water sports and event use. Singapore has not yet provided a detailed start date for that phase.
What residents and sea users can expect
Beaches along East Coast Park are expected to remain open during the preparatory works, including for near-shore swimming. Jogging and cycling paths are also expected to remain accessible, although sea users will have to keep a safe distance from work vessels and cordoned work zones.
Kiteboarding is expected to face the greatest disruption because the works will reduce available sea space. Other sea-sports users may experience minor to moderate impacts. Agencies say they will work with affected users to explore alternative sites, including waters east of Bedok Jetty and other locations in Singapore.
Environmental review is still continuing
A government-commissioned environmental study predicted no significant change in water quality during the preparatory works. It also identified localized changes in currents and waves near Bedok Jetty, intermittent sediment plumes and dust from sand infilling, and minor localized effects on some coral, seagrass and marine areas.
The mitigation plan includes silt screens and an Environmental Monitoring and Management Plan covering water quality, suspended sediment, noise and dust. The official study process remains subject to review: in written answers delivered September 8, National Development Minister Chee Hong Tat said feedback from researchers, nature groups, stakeholders and the public would be considered in the final report, while the second stage of environmental studies for Long Island is ongoing.
Independent reporting has also documented concerns about marine biodiversity, including the possible effects on hawksbill turtles and the limited baseline data available for some species around Bedok Jetty. Those concerns are part of the continuing public and technical discussion, not evidence that the project’s environmental questions have been settled.
A coastal-defense and land-creation project
The broader concept could eventually reclaim approximately 800 hectares off Singapore’s East Coast. Singapore says the project is intended to protect low-lying areas from rising seas, improve flood resilience, support a future reservoir and strengthen water resilience. It could also create land for future development and add waterfront parks.
Those later uses remain planning possibilities rather than completed decisions. The preparatory footprint is not the final shape of Long Island, and the main reclamation works will come only after further engineering and environmental studies, mitigation decisions and additional public engagement.
For now, the immediate change is narrower but significant: marine construction is scheduled to begin west of Bedok Jetty from the end of 2026, while Singapore continues deciding what the eventual megaproject will look like and how its effects will be managed.
Sources
- Urban Redevelopment Authority: Preparatory works for Long Island
- The Straits Times: Government study says Long Island works will have minor impact on environment
Look for updates to this story
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