Johor Bahru CIQ: Contra lanes proposed to ease congestion

The Johor government has put forth a recommendation to activate contra lanes at the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complexes (Johor Bahru CIQ) of the Sultan Iskandar Building (BSI) and the Sultan Abu Bakar Complex (KSAB).

Last Thursday, BSI witnessed over 258,000 travellers, while KSAB recorded around 63,000 travellers.

Based on the update from the Checkpoints.sg app yesterday, the estimated travel time to enter Johor Bahru by car through both Woodlands and Tuas is approximately three to four-and-a-half hours.

According to Channel News Asia, the congestion was intensified by the Vesak Day long weekend coinciding with the June school holidays. As a result, queues at the CIQs extended beyond the complex, causing inconvenience for commuters and showcasing the need for immediate action.

To address the recent surge in congestion and facilitate smoother travel, particularly during peak periods, Menteri Besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi has proposed the activation of contra lanes aimed at tackling the congestion issue effectively.

Onn Hafiz proposed the activation of contra lanes specifically during school holidays and long weekends.

By implementing contra lanes for inbound and outbound movements during specified periods, such as school holidays or festive seasons.

Onn Hafiz through his Facebook post has also said that vehicles found cutting the queue will be denied entry into Malaysia and instructed to return to Singapore.

This measure underscores the commitment to fair and orderly procedures while fostering stronger cross-border relations between the two nations.

Onn Hafiz, who was at the BSI CIQ yesterday, advised users of the Johor Causeway and the Second Link to plan their journey in advance so as not to get caught in traffic jams.

Earlier this week, he emphasized the urgent need to address the long-standing issue of traffic congestion at the land crossings between Johor and Singapore, stating that it must be resolved by 2023.

He further expressed the commitment to ongoing efforts in resolving the traffic problems, while also implementing various initiatives to enhance the development of the southern Malaysian state. The aim is to not only alleviate congestion but also create an environment conducive to attracting increased foreign investments to Johor.

Channel News Asia reported that during the Good Friday weekend in April, close to 1.4 million travellers crossed the land checkpoints, with an average of about 350,000 people leaving and entering Singapore each day.