Heavy Traffic Builds Up at Woodlands Checkpoint as Singapore School Holidays Continue
SINGAPORE — Motorists heading from Singapore into Malaysia faced heavy traffic at Woodlands Checkpoint on Sept. 8, with long queues forming along the Causeway as cross-border travel intensified during the September school holidays.
The congestion came amid an Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) advisory warning travellers to expect very heavy traffic at both Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints from Sept. 4 to 14.
Traffic tailbacks stretch along Causeway
The heavy departure traffic was linked to tailbacks from Malaysia, with motorists advised to expect delays before reaching immigration clearance at Woodlands.
Similar congestion had been reported in recent days, with traffic cameras showing queues extending along much of the Causeway during periods of peak demand.
The congestion is particularly significant during the school holiday period, when thousands of Singapore residents travel across the border for short trips, holidays and family visits.
ICA warns travellers to plan ahead
ICA has urged travellers to plan their journeys carefully and avoid peak periods where possible.
The authority said motorists should consider travelling during non-peak hours and check traffic conditions before setting off. Travellers can also use the MyICA mobile application to generate QR codes for immigration clearance.
ICA previously said that more than 2.1 million travellers crossed Singapore's Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints during the National Day weekend in August, with daily traffic reaching more than 593,000 travellers at its peak. Some motorists experienced waits of up to three hours because of traffic tailbacks from Malaysia.
More congestion expected through Sept. 14
The current traffic situation comes as Singapore enters one of the busiest cross-border travel periods of the year.
ICA has warned that traffic conditions at both land checkpoints could remain challenging throughout the September school holidays, particularly during peak departure and arrival periods.
Motorists can monitor live conditions through the Land Transport Authority's traffic cameras, including views of Woodlands Checkpoint and the Causeway.
With the September school holidays still underway, travellers heading across the Singapore-Malaysia border should be prepared for longer waits — and plan their journeys before the Causeway queues become the biggest part of the trip.
WWC ONE MEDIA J.M.D