ICA: SG-JB congestion worsened by 2 lorry breakdowns on Malaysia side, not by ‘massive power outage’ at Woodlands Checkpoint as reported by Malaysian media

Singapore's Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) has rejected claims that a major power outage at Woodlands Checkpoint caused significant congestion along the Singapore-Johor Bahru Causeway. Instead, ICA stated that planned electrical maintenance and two lorry breakdowns on the Malaysian side were responsible for the traffic issues on Wednesday (Nov 4).

This clarification came after Malaysian newspaper The Star reported a "massive power outage" at Woodlands Checkpoint as the cause of the congestion, which reportedly started around noon.

According to ICA, electrical maintenance at Old Woodlands Checkpoint occurred between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., during which the checkpoint was temporarily unavailable for clearing arriving lorries. However, cargo clearance continued at Woodlands Checkpoint itself. Consequently, some Singapore-bound lorries accumulated along the Causeway as Old Woodlands Checkpoint resumed operations around 4 p.m.

The traffic situation worsened further when two lorries broke down on the Malaysian side, one at around 4:30 p.m. and another at approximately 6:30 p.m. Both vehicles were heading towards Singapore and blocked one of the three arrival lanes, causing queues to stretch back into Malaysia. The evening peak traffic added to the congestion, making the journey slower for motorists and workers returning home.

The first broken-down lorry was cleared at 9:50 pm, while the second was removed around 12:22 am on Thursday (Nov 5). ICA issued updates on its Facebook page to warn travelers about the breakdowns, expected delays, and the reopening of the affected lane. By Wednesday evening, travel times from Johor Bahru to Singapore had reached 90 minutes, with estimates of 50 to 75 minutes for travelers heading in the opposite direction.

Johor-Singapore travel times were significantly delayed by Wednesday evening, with travellers experiencing journey times of 60 to 90 minutes from Johor Bahru to Singapore, and 50 to 75 minutes for those traveling the opposite direction. Malaysian authorities opened additional lanes and deployed more police officers around BSI (Bangunan Sultan Iskandar) customs, immigration, and quarantine complex to manage the evening rush.

This incident highlights how a few disruptions can affect thousands of people traveling between Singapore and Johor. To avoid unexpected delays, commuters are advised to check official checkpoint updates before setting off.