Power outage at Woodlands Checkpoint causes long queues, delays with immigration clearance
Motorists posted pictures on social media of digital signage instructing vehicles to enter Malaysia using the Tuas Checkpoint instead. (Photo: Telegram)
SINGAPORE: A power outage at Woodlands Checkpoint caused issues with immigration clearance for about several hours in the early hours of Sunday (Oct 9), the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said.
In a Facebook post at 1.15am, the ICA advised travellers to enter or depart Singapore via Tuas Checkpoint instead of Woodlands.
ICA also advised motorists to check the traffic situation through the Land Transport Authority's One Motoring website.
The authority later updated at 5.30am that immigration clearance and power had been restored.
OUTAGE DUE TO BACKUP GENERATOR FAILURE
In response to CNA's queries, ICA said the power outage was due to the failure of a backup generator during maintenance of Woodlands Checkpoint’s main power source, which was scheduled to start at around 11.40pm on Saturday.
The timing of the maintenance was chosen "as it had the lowest traffic volume at the checkpoint", said an ICA spokesperson.
"The servicing required ICA to disconnect the normal source and replace components parts serving that source,” they added.
As part of the maintenance, the backup power generator was activated to provide power. However, at around 12.20am on Sunday, the backup power generator failed, resulting in a power outage that disrupted operations at the checkpoint, explained the spokesperson.
The backup power generator had been serviced and tested earlier on Saturday.
When the power outage happened, ICA said it worked with Malaysian authorities to direct inbound vehicles towards the Tuas Checkpoint, while immigration officers and Traffic Police were also deployed on BKE and Woodlands Crossing to divert affected traffic.
"For arriving vehicles and travellers who were already on the Causeway towards Woodlands Checkpoint or within the checkpoint, contingency measures were implemented to clear them without compromising security," said ICA.
"To better manage arriving traffic, Old Woodlands Checkpoint was also opened and additional ICA officers were deployed there to facilitate immigration clearance."
Power was restored at around 4am, said the spokesperson, adding that immigration clearance resumed at around 5.15am.
Operations were back to normalcy at around 6.25am, said ICA.
ICA added that it regrets the inconvenience caused and thanked travellers for their understanding and cooperation.
During the power outage, some Facebook users uploaded pictures of congested lanes and long vehicular queues outside Woodlands Checkpoint under ICA's post.
One traveller commented that at 3.15am, Woodlands Checkpoint was "super dark with only emergency lights on".
Several motorists travelling from Malaysia to Singapore also said they experienced traffic tailback when trying to enter the checkpoint.
