SINGAPORE: The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) on Thursday (Nov 5) refuted a report {that a} energy outage at Woodlands Checkpoint induced visitors congestion alongside the Causeway and on a number of roads in Johor Bahru on Wednesday.
In its account of Wednesday’s occasions, ICA mentioned a build-up of Singapore-bound visitors occurred amid deliberate electrical upkeep works, whereas two car breakdowns on the Malaysian facet of the Causeway subsequently contributed to visitors tailing again into Malaysia.
Malaysian newspaper The Star had earlier reported that the congestion, which it mentioned started at about midday on Wednesday, was attributable to a “large energy outage” at Woodlands Checkpoint.
In response to queries from CNA, an ICA spokesperson mentioned: “ICA want to make clear that no energy outage was skilled at Woodlands Checkpoint on that date.”
The spokesperson mentioned that the works have been carried out on the Previous Woodlands Checkpoint from 10am to 2pm on Wednesday.
Whereas the Previous Woodlands Checkpoint was briefly unavailable for the clearance of arriving lorries throughout the works, lorry clearance continued at Woodlands Checkpoint, the spokesperson added.
Throughout this era, some Singapore-bound cargo visitors constructed up on the Causeway earlier than operations on the Previous Woodlands Checkpoint resumed at round 4pm.
Later within the day, ICA noticed that two lorries broke down on the Malaysian facet of the Causeway in direction of Singapore at round 4.30pm and 6.30pm.
“The breakdowns blocked one of many three arrival lanes, contributing to visitors queues extending from the lorry breakdown websites into Malaysia,” the spokesperson mentioned.
“The congestion was exacerbated by the upper quantity of autos throughout the night peak interval.”
ICA noticed that the primary lorry was eliminated solely at 9.50pm that night, whereas the second was eliminated at round 12.22am on Thursday morning.
“Throughout this era, visitors in direction of Woodlands Checkpoint was disrupted. ICA posted advisories on its Fb web page to alert travellers to the car breakdowns and anticipated delays, and notify them when the affected lane reopened,” the spokesperson mentioned.
At 10.15pm on Wednesday, the journey time from Johor Bahru to Singapore was 60 to 90 minutes, whereas the journey time from Singapore to Johor Bahru was 50 to 70 minutes, in line with ICA.
All counters have been working on the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar (BSI) customs, immigration and quarantine advanced on the Malaysian facet of the Causeway, The Star reported.
Malaysian authorities opened extra lanes in an effort to resolve the congestion, with extra police personnel deployed round BSI and main entry roads to handle the peak-hour rush of staff leaving Singapore, it added.