ICA refutes report that Woodlands Checkpoint power outage resulted in Causeway, JB congestion

In its account of what happened, ICA said a build-up of Singapore-bound traffic occurred amid planned electrical maintenance works, while two vehicle breakdowns on the Malaysian side of the Causeway subsequently contributed to traffic tailing back into Malaysia.

Motorists head towards Johor Bahru at Woodlands Checkpoint on Jan 20, 2023. (File photo: CNA/Ooi Boon Keong)

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SINGAPORE: The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) on Thursday (Nov 5) refuted a report that a power outage at Woodlands Checkpoint caused traffic congestion along the Causeway and on several roads in Johor Bahru on Wednesday.

In its account of Wednesday's events, ICA said a build-up of Singapore-bound traffic occurred amid planned electrical maintenance works, while two vehicle breakdowns on the Malaysian side of the Causeway subsequently contributed to traffic tailing back into Malaysia.

Malaysian newspaper The Star had earlier reported that the congestion, which it said began at about noon on Wednesday, was caused by a "massive power outage" at Woodlands Checkpoint.

In response to queries from CNA, an ICA spokesperson said: "ICA would like to clarify that no power outage was experienced at Woodlands Checkpoint on that date."

The spokesperson said that the works were carried out at the Old Woodlands Checkpoint from 10am to 2pm on Wednesday.

While the Old Woodlands Checkpoint was temporarily unavailable for the clearance of arriving lorries during the works, lorry clearance continued at Woodlands Checkpoint, the spokesperson added.

During this period, some Singapore-bound cargo traffic built up on the Causeway before operations at the Old Woodlands Checkpoint resumed at around 4pm.

Later in the day, ICA observed that two lorries broke down on the Malaysian side of the Causeway towards Singapore at around 4.30pm and 6.30pm.

"The breakdowns blocked one of the three arrival lanes, contributing to traffic queues extending from the lorry breakdown sites into Malaysia," the spokesperson said.

"The congestion was exacerbated by the higher volume of vehicles during the evening peak period."

ICA observed that the first lorry was removed only at 9.50pm that evening, while the second was removed at around 12.22am on Thursday morning.

"During this period, traffic towards Woodlands Checkpoint was disrupted. ICA posted advisories on its Facebook page to alert travellers to the vehicle breakdowns and expected delays, and notify them when the affected lane reopened," the spokesperson said.

At 10.15pm on Wednesday, the travel time from Johor Bahru to Singapore was 60 to 90 minutes, while the travel time from Singapore to Johor Bahru was 50 to 70 minutes, according to ICA.

All counters were operating at the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar (BSI) customs, immigration and quarantine complex on the Malaysian side of the Causeway, The Star reported.

Malaysian authorities opened additional lanes in an effort to resolve the congestion, with additional police personnel deployed around BSI and major access roads to manage the peak-hour rush of workers leaving Singapore, it added.

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ICA在对事件的描述中表示，在计划进行的电力维护工作期间，开往新加坡方向的交通出现拥堵，而随后在长堤马来西亚一侧发生的两起车辆故障导致交通堵塞回马来西亚境内。

2023年1月20日，驾车者经由兀兰关卡前往新山。（资料照片：CNA/Ooi Boon Keong）

这段音频是由人工智能工具生成的。

新加坡：移民与关卡局（ICA）周四（11月5日）驳斥了有关兀兰关卡停电导致新柔长堤及新山多条道路周三交通拥堵的报道。

ICA在对周三事件的描述中表示，由于计划中的电力维护工作，开往新加坡方向的交通出现拥堵，而随后在长堤马来西亚一侧发生的两起车辆故障导致交通堵塞回流到马来西亚境内。

马来西亚报纸《星报》早前报道称，拥堵情况于周三中午左右开始，原因是兀兰关卡发生“大规模停电”。

针对亚洲新闻台（CNA）的询问，移民与关卡局（ICA）发言人表示：“移民与关卡局特此澄清，当天兀兰关卡并未发生停电。”

发言人表示，工程于周三上午10点至下午2点在旧兀兰关卡进行。

发言人补充说，虽然旧兀兰关卡在施工期间暂时无法通关货车，但兀兰关卡的货车通关服务仍在继续。

在此期间，一些开往新加坡的货物交通在长堤上积聚，直到下午 4 点左右旧兀兰关卡恢复通关。

当天晚些时候，ICA观察到，下午4点30分和6点30分左右，有两辆货车在通往新加坡的堤道马来西亚一侧抛锚。

发言人表示：“车辆故障堵塞了三条进城车道中的一条，导致交通拥堵从货车故障地点一直延伸到马来西亚境内。”

“晚高峰时段车辆数量增多，加剧了交通拥堵。”

ICA观察到，第一辆货车直到当晚9点50分才被移走，而第二辆货车直到周四凌晨12点22分左右才被移走。

“在此期间，通往兀兰关卡的交通受到影响。移民与关卡局在其脸书页面上发布公告，提醒旅客注意车辆故障和预计延误情况，并在受影响车道重新开放时通知他们，”发言人说。

根据新加坡移民与关卡局（ICA）的数据，周三晚上 10 点 15 分，从新山到新加坡的旅行时间为 60 至 90 分钟，而从新加坡到新山的旅行时间为 50 至 70 分钟。

据《星报》报道，位于长堤马来西亚一侧的苏丹伊斯坎达尔大厦（BSI）海关、移民和检疫综合大楼的所有柜台均正常运作。

马来西亚当局为缓解交通拥堵，增开了车道，并在BSI附近及主要通道部署了更多警力，以应对高峰时段离开新加坡的工人的交通高峰。

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