Severe Congestion at Singapore–Malaysia Land Checkpoints as Wait Times Stretch Beyond Three Hours
SINGAPORE, April 30 — Cross-border travel from Singapore to Malaysia is experiencing heavy congestion, with motorists facing extended delays at key land checkpoints amid the Labour Day holiday surge.
The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) reported unusually high traffic volumes at both Woodlands Checkpoint and Tuas Checkpoint, as outbound travel peaks during the long weekend.
Motorists using Woodlands Checkpoint are expected to wait at least two hours, with queues extending back to Exit 10A along the Bukit Timah Expressway (BKE), reflecting a sharp increase in outbound traffic.
At Tuas Checkpoint, delays are even more severe, with waiting times exceeding three hours due to congestion spilling over from Malaysia. Traffic has reportedly backed up to the midpoint of the Second Link Bridge, highlighting the scale of the bottleneck.
The impact of the congestion has also extended to public transport services, with several bus routes — including 187, 960e, 963, 963e and 966 — diverted to avoid heavily congested sections near Woodlands Road.
ICA had earlier warned of heightened traffic conditions between April 30 and May 3, as many residents take advantage of the public holiday period to travel across the border for leisure, shopping or family visits.
Authorities are urging travellers to adopt a more strategic approach to their journeys, including avoiding peak travel periods and planning ahead to minimise waiting times.
Travelling during off-peak hours, such as early mornings or late evenings, has been recommended as a practical way to reduce delays.
Additionally, ICA has encouraged travellers to utilise QR code clearance systems to speed up immigration processing and improve overall flow at checkpoints.
The authority also stressed the importance of compliance with traffic rules and maintaining proper lane discipline while queueing.
Motorists who attempt to cut queues or violate traffic regulations will face strict enforcement measures, including being redirected to the back of the line.
“ICA will take firm action against travellers who do not comply with our officers’ instructions or commit traffic offences,” the authority said.
The current situation underscores the recurring strain on cross-border infrastructure during peak travel periods, particularly during public holidays, when demand for land travel between Singapore and Malaysia surges significantly.
-wilayah.com.my
