By Nur Ashikin Abdul Aziz
SINGAPORE, Aug 17 (Bernama) — The redevelopment of Woodlands Checkpoint, to be expanded to five times its current size, will improve cross-border connectivity and maximise the potential of the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ).
Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong in his National Day Rally (NDR) speech said that the redevelopment will ensure more efficient and secure clearances, as well as shorter wait times and smoother traffic.
“The SEZ has great potential for both sides to tap on complementary strengths and grow together. To maximise this potential, we must improve cross-border connectivity,” he said on Sunday.
He said that today, the Causeway is the busiest land crossing in the world, which gets even more congested during weekends and holidays.
To provide a long-term solution to this chronic congestion, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) had previously announced it was redeveloping and extending the Woodlands Checkpoint (WCP) in phases over the next 10 to 15 years.
Under Phase 1, ICA will build an extension of WCP at the Old Woodlands Town Centre, with construction work for this phase scheduled for the third quarter of 2025.
This extension, among others, will include new automated clearance facilities for cargo vehicles, arriving cars, and arriving motorcycles.
Wong also informed that the Johor Bahru–Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link, which will connect directly to Woodlands North MRT Station in Singapore, is set to ease cross-border travel.
He said Singapore will also build flexible industrial spaces around the RTS Link station to support businesses seeking to take full advantage of the JS-SEZ.
— BERNAMA
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