The Straits Times
2 June 2022

Woodlands Checkpoint redevelopment to meet growing traffic demands, improve traveller experience

We refer to the letters by Mr Philip Tan Kim Huat (Other factors contributing to traffic congestion at Woodlands Checkpoint) and Mr Krishnapillai Raveeohran (Woodlands Checkpoint expansion also a concern for those whose blocks remain, both published on May 31).

The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority notes Mr Tan's suggestions.

We monitor traffic conditions at the Woodlands Checkpoint in real-time and optimise and deploy manpower resources accordingly.

We have also been leveraging technology to improve clearance times and processes.

There is, however, a limit to how much we can improve the experience of travellers at Woodlands Checkpoint due to the constraints of its current infrastructure.

Moreover, as the preferred gateway for land crossing between Singapore and

Malaysia, the Checkpoint is estimated to see a daily average of about 400,000 travellers by 2050, compared with pre-pandemic levels of about 300,000.

It is therefore necessary for us to redevelop and extend Woodlands Checkpoint.

The redeveloped and extended Woodlands Checkpoint will have more clearance lanes, and feature automated clearance counters for buses, cars, motorcycles and heavy goods vehicles, under the New Clearance Concept that will be rolled out from end-2023.

This will improve productivity and efficiency and enable us to reduce travel time by as much as four times during peak periods.

On the concerns raised by Mr Krishnapillai, we would like to assure him and residents in the vicinity that we will do our very best to minimise disruptions and inconveniences to their daily lives during redevelopment, including putting in place hoardings, dust control measures and noise barriers.

We will also work out staging plans and mitigating measures to minimise the impact to traffic.

Patrick Ong
Head, Public Communications and Protocol
Corporate Communications and Service Division
Immigration and Checkpoints Authority

<Original Letter>

The Straits Times
31 May 2022

Woodlands Checkpoint expansion also a concern for those whose blocks remain

News about the Woodlands Checkpoint expansion has taken many Marsiling residents by surprise (9 HDB blocks acquired for Checkpoint expansion, May 27).

It was reported that Blocks 210 to 218 in Marsiling Crescent and Marsiling Lane will be acquired for the redevelopment.

This has ramifications for not only owners of those flats that will be demolished but also those whose flats will not be demolished but are located right in the thick of the development works.

No doubt having to move out of their home and into a new location will be stressful for residents, especially the elderly, who would understandably be unhappy that they have to be uprooted at this late stage in their life.

Residents like myself, whose flats are in the blocks located on the other side of Marsiling Lane that will not be acquired, are also filled with dread.

We have to bear the brunt of the massive redevelopment works and, thereafter, the din of the projected 400,000 daily travellers passing through the road to cross the border.

It would be good to know if the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority has plans to mitigate the effects from the development on the daily lives of those living in the remaining blocks facing Marsiling Lane.

Krishnapillai Raveeohran

The Straits Times
31 May 2022

Other factors contributing to traffic congestion at Woodlands Checkpoint

Nine Housing Board blocks will be acquired for the expansion of the Woodlands Checkpoint to address traffic congestion and meet a projected 40 per cent increase in volumes by 2050 (9 HDB blocks acquired for Checkpoint expansion, May 27).

But I wonder if such a big step, at great cost, needs to be taken when other options are still available.

A major contributing factor to the traffic congestion that occurs daily at the Woodlands Checkpoint seems to be that not all of the immigration counters on both sides of the Causeway are open. There is also a delay caused by people making sure that their passports are properly stamped.

Both Singapore and Malaysia should ensure that all counters are open and fully manned during peak hours.

Also, the Second Link remains under-utilised. I believe that the main reason for this is that both countries' toll charges there are higher than those on both sides of the Causeway.

Perhaps the authorities could look into how to reduce the Second Link's toll charges and recoup the difference from the subsequent increase in traffic.

Philip Tan Kim Huat