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Response to Feedback on Causeway Situation (ST, 18 Jun 2009)
ICA explains Causeway bottlenecks
Straits Times
25 June 2009
I REFER to recent feedback on Causeway traffic.
The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) is responsible for ensuring border security, even as it carries out its immigration functions over the flow of people, goods and conveyances.
Last year, ICA cleared 149 million travellers at our checkpoints, with an estimated 330,000 travellers passing through the land checkpoints daily. Stringent security checks detected and prevented suspected criminals and undesirable persons from entering or leaving Singapore. ICA cannot let its guard down as the consequences may prove costly.
Mr John Ng's letter last Thursday ('Causeway bottleneck 1') pointed out that Malaysia faces the same traffic challenges, particularly during peak periods, yet it seems able to improve its system to ensure smooth-flowing traffic.
Travellers who used Woodlands Checkpoint over the past two weekends would have experienced traffic tailback from the new Malaysian checkpoint at Bukit Chagar to Singapore, which started as early as 8.30am and lasted more than half a day.
Traffic build-up is inevitable when there is a surge of travellers and vehicles during peak periods. It poses considerable challenges to the authorities on both sides of the Causeway. As for Mr Ng's comparison of our decade-old Woodlands Checkpoint to the newly opened Bukit Chagar Checkpoint in Johor Baru, ICA would like to clarify that, apart from age and design of infrastructure, protective measures and extent of security checks adopted on both sides also differ significantly.
Mr Mohan Abraham's letter last Thursday ('Causeway bottleneck 2') expressed concern about the design of converging lanes. The channelling of vehicles to tightly controlled exit points is a proven security and anti-dash-through measure.
We understand the design may limit the flow of traffic during peak periods. This is why we will divert vehicles to the motorcycle lanes during busy periods. We have refurbished the old Woodlands Checkpoint and it has progressively accommodated different modes of traffic since July 2007 to ease congestion and build-up.
We welcome the public's feedback on ways to improve our clearance efficiency. Where practical, we will pursue and develop these ideas to enhance efficiency, even as we continue to ensure that security vigilance and checks are not compromised.
Chia Hui Keng (Ms)
Head, Public & Internal Communications Branch
Corporate Communications Division
Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
Feedback on Causeway Situation
Straits Times
18 June 2009
Causeway bottleneck 1
'The Malaysians face the same traffic challenges, yet have improved their end.'
MR JOHN NG: 'I refer to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) reply yesterday ('Why Causeway clearance can't be a breeze like Changi'). While it may be hard to keep traffic smooth-flowing during peak periods or holidays, returning from Malaysia at other times is just as jam-packed. I am baffled that while the ICA appears to have a problem ensuring smooth-flowing traffic, the Malaysians seem to have vastly improved their system. Jams at the Malaysian end are usually shorter during peak or holiday periods and traffic is a breeze at other times. It used to be the reverse many years ago. The Malaysians face the same traffic challenges as the ICA, yet they have managed to improve their end of the Causeway.'
Causeway bottleneck 2
'Checkpoint a mess.'
MR MOHAN ABRAHAM: 'The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) should demonstrate a desire to improve the situation ('Why Causeway clearance can't be a breeze like Changi', yesterday). The entire checkpoint area for the flow of cars is a mess. It was inefficiently designed with little regard to increased traffic flow. The ICA should accept that the design needs to be completely overhauled. I travel across the Causeway every weekend and the traffic jams have got progressively worse. One does not need to be a road planner to figure out that a convergence from the various Customs gateways into two lanes is a recipe for disaster. The threat of terrorism, post-9/11, is no longer a valid reason, especially if we declare ourselves First World.'
Straits Times
25 June 2009
I REFER to recent feedback on Causeway traffic.
The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) is responsible for ensuring border security, even as it carries out its immigration functions over the flow of people, goods and conveyances.
Last year, ICA cleared 149 million travellers at our checkpoints, with an estimated 330,000 travellers passing through the land checkpoints daily. Stringent security checks detected and prevented suspected criminals and undesirable persons from entering or leaving Singapore. ICA cannot let its guard down as the consequences may prove costly.
Mr John Ng's letter last Thursday ('Causeway bottleneck 1') pointed out that Malaysia faces the same traffic challenges, particularly during peak periods, yet it seems able to improve its system to ensure smooth-flowing traffic.
Travellers who used Woodlands Checkpoint over the past two weekends would have experienced traffic tailback from the new Malaysian checkpoint at Bukit Chagar to Singapore, which started as early as 8.30am and lasted more than half a day.
Traffic build-up is inevitable when there is a surge of travellers and vehicles during peak periods. It poses considerable challenges to the authorities on both sides of the Causeway. As for Mr Ng's comparison of our decade-old Woodlands Checkpoint to the newly opened Bukit Chagar Checkpoint in Johor Baru, ICA would like to clarify that, apart from age and design of infrastructure, protective measures and extent of security checks adopted on both sides also differ significantly.
Mr Mohan Abraham's letter last Thursday ('Causeway bottleneck 2') expressed concern about the design of converging lanes. The channelling of vehicles to tightly controlled exit points is a proven security and anti-dash-through measure.
We understand the design may limit the flow of traffic during peak periods. This is why we will divert vehicles to the motorcycle lanes during busy periods. We have refurbished the old Woodlands Checkpoint and it has progressively accommodated different modes of traffic since July 2007 to ease congestion and build-up.
We welcome the public's feedback on ways to improve our clearance efficiency. Where practical, we will pursue and develop these ideas to enhance efficiency, even as we continue to ensure that security vigilance and checks are not compromised.
Chia Hui Keng (Ms)
Head, Public & Internal Communications Branch
Corporate Communications Division
Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
Feedback on Causeway Situation
Straits Times
18 June 2009
Causeway bottleneck 1
'The Malaysians face the same traffic challenges, yet have improved their end.'
MR JOHN NG: 'I refer to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) reply yesterday ('Why Causeway clearance can't be a breeze like Changi'). While it may be hard to keep traffic smooth-flowing during peak periods or holidays, returning from Malaysia at other times is just as jam-packed. I am baffled that while the ICA appears to have a problem ensuring smooth-flowing traffic, the Malaysians seem to have vastly improved their system. Jams at the Malaysian end are usually shorter during peak or holiday periods and traffic is a breeze at other times. It used to be the reverse many years ago. The Malaysians face the same traffic challenges as the ICA, yet they have managed to improve their end of the Causeway.'
Causeway bottleneck 2
'Checkpoint a mess.'
MR MOHAN ABRAHAM: 'The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) should demonstrate a desire to improve the situation ('Why Causeway clearance can't be a breeze like Changi', yesterday). The entire checkpoint area for the flow of cars is a mess. It was inefficiently designed with little regard to increased traffic flow. The ICA should accept that the design needs to be completely overhauled. I travel across the Causeway every weekend and the traffic jams have got progressively worse. One does not need to be a road planner to figure out that a convergence from the various Customs gateways into two lanes is a recipe for disaster. The threat of terrorism, post-9/11, is no longer a valid reason, especially if we declare ourselves First World.'