Johor to activate contra lanes at land checkpoints to address year-end holiday congestion
“These contra lanes will be activated during peak hours when many vehicles are entering Malaysia from Singapore, while the number of vehicles leaving Malaysia is relatively low,” an official says.
Vehicles at the Woodlands Checkpoint in Singapore head towards the Sultan Iskandar Building in Johor on Oct 21, 2022. (Photo: Facebook/UKK BSI)
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KULAI: The Johor government said it is ready to activate contra lanes at its land checkpoints to address congestion during the Christmas and New Year holidays, adding that additional immigration counters will also be opened.
The chairman of the state's works, transportation and infrastructure committee Mohamad Fazli Mohamad Salleh said on Thursday (Dec 21) that these measures will be implemented at the customs, immigration and quarantine complexes of the Sultan Iskandar Building and the Sultan Abu Bakar Complex.
He added that the Royal Malaysia Police, Road Transport Department and local authorities will also monitor congestion and carry out enforcement operations.
“These contra lanes will be activated during peak hours when many vehicles are entering Malaysia from Singapore, while the number of vehicles leaving Malaysia is relatively low,” he said after an event in Kulai.
“Therefore, the exit lanes can be used as contra lanes to accommodate the influx of vehicles from Singapore.”
According to the Johor Immigration Department, there are a total of 236 immigration entry and exit counters at the Sultan Iskandar Building, comprising 100 motorcycle counters, 60 car counters, 36 bus counters and 40 autogate counters.
At the Sultan Abu Bakar Complex, there are 162 entry and exit counters – 50 motorcycle counters, 48 car counters, 52 bus counters and 12 autogate counters.
Singapore’s Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said on Tuesday that travellers should expect very heavy traffic at both the Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints over the upcoming Christmas and New Year’s Day long weekends.
Travellers should factor in a longer wait for immigration clearance when planning their trips, ICA said in an advisory on Tuesday, adding that those clearing immigration by car might have to wait up to three hours.
It said that crossings at both checkpoints have surged, and security measures have also been stepped up in view of the situation in the Middle East.
