First announced as Cross Street MRT station in 2005 as part of the Circle line's Downtown extension, constructing the station required diverting the traffic on Cross Street to a temporary viaduct while building the DTL tunnels above the operational East West line tunnels.

[25] On 29 August 2012, then Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew visited and inspected the station site, where he announced the alignment of the Thomson line.

[26] The station held an open house on 7 December 2013,[27][28] with surrounding businesses marking the event by giving various offers to patrons.

The station features elliptical patterns and shapes used on various facilities, including the lifts, the supporting structures and the curved ceiling.

[38] Commissioned as part of the Art-in-Transit (AiT) programme — a public art showcase which integrates artworks into the MRT network — Charm of Bay (also named Bulbous Abode) by Lim Shing Ee is displayed at the concourse level of the station.

[39][40] The artwork, which consists of the wall patterns, floor tiles and the station columns,[41] creates a "whimsical landscape" at the concourse level.

[40][42] Each of the concourse's "bulbous" boulder-like columns, cladded in brown, resembles "primitive monuments" such as pebbles and boulders in rivers[43] to reflect the locality's role as the primary settling point of early Chinese immigrants.

[41] The abstract patterns on the two opposing walls were inspired by former plantations in the area, along with elements of water and man-made landscapes.

[43] These patterns intend to reflect Telok Ayer's history and name, which means "Bay Water" in the Malay language.