ICA refutes Malaysian media report of Woodlands Checkpoint power outage causing traffic jamICA驳斥马来西亚媒体关于兀兰关卡停电导致交通拥堵的报道
The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) has refuted foreign media reports of a power outage at Woodlands Checkpoint on Wednesday (Nov 4) as untrue.The agency attributed the traffic congestion on the Causeway that day to planned electrical maintenance works at the Old Woodlands Checkpoint and subsequent vehicle breakdowns.Malaysian media outlet The Star reported that a "massive power outage" hit Woodlands...
The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) has refuted foreign media reports of a power outage at Woodlands Checkpoint on Wednesday (Nov 4) as untrue.
The agency attributed the traffic congestion on the Causeway that day to planned electrical maintenance works at the Old Woodlands Checkpoint and subsequent vehicle breakdowns.
Malaysian media outlet The Star reported that a "massive power outage" hit Woodlands Checkpoint, causing a heavy traffic jam on Malaysia's roads.
On Thursday, an ICA spokesperson told AsiaOne that lorries entering Singapore temporarily could not undergo clearance the Old Woodlands Checkpoint from 10am to 2pm because of the planned works.
Lorry clearance continued at Woodlands Checkpoint, and some Singapore-bound cargo traffic built up on the Causeway.
Operations at the Old Woodlands Checkpoint resumed at around 4pm.
At about 4.30pm and 6.30pm respectively, two lorries broke down on the Malaysian-side of the Causeway towards Singapore, blocking one of the three arrival lanes. This contributed to traffic queues extending from the breakdown sites into Malaysia.
At the same time, the evening peak period meant a higher volume of vehicles travelling between borders.
Data from the Checkpoint.sg app showed a sharp rise in Malaysia-Singapore traffic from about 4.30pm onwards.
ICA said it observed that the first lorry was removed only at 9.50pm that evening, while the second was removed at around 12.22am the next day.
"During this period, traffic towards Woodlands Checkpoint was disrupted," the spokesperson said.
"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."
lim.kewei@asiaone.com
移民与关卡局（ICA）驳斥了外国媒体关于兀兰关卡周三（11月4日）停电的报道，称其不实。
该机构将当天堤道上的交通拥堵归咎于旧兀兰关卡计划内的电气维护工程以及随后的车辆故障。
马来西亚媒体《星报》报道称，兀兰关卡发生“大规模停电”，导致马来西亚道路交通严重拥堵。
周四，新加坡移民与关卡局（ICA）发言人告诉AsiaOne，由于计划中的工程，上午10点至下午2点期间，进入新加坡的货车暂时无法通过旧兀兰关卡进行通关。
兀兰关卡的货车清关工作仍在继续，一些开往新加坡的货运车辆在长堤上积聚。
旧林地关卡的运作于下午4点左右恢复。
下午4点30分和6点30分左右，分别有两辆货车在通往新加坡的堤道马来西亚一侧发生故障，堵塞了三条进城车道中的一条。这导致交通拥堵从故障地点一直延伸到马来西亚境内。
与此同时，晚高峰时段意味着跨境车辆通行量更大。
Checkpoint.sg 应用程序的数据显示，从下午 4 点 30 分左右开始，马来西亚至新加坡的交通流量急剧上升。
ICA表示，他们观察到第一辆货车直到当晚9点50分才被移走，而第二辆货车则在第二天凌晨12点22分左右才被移走。
发言人表示：“在此期间，通往兀兰关卡的交通受到干扰。”
“ICA在其Facebook页面上发布了公告，提醒旅客注意车辆故障和预计延误情况，并在受影响的车道重新开放时通知他们。”
lim.kewei@asiaone.com