Johor Bahru-Singapore RTS Link project is on schedule

Construction of the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link is advancing as planned, with 52% of the project currently on schedule.

Mass Rapid Transit Corporation (MRT Corp) CEO Datuk Mohd Zarif Hashim stated that the project is entering its peak phase, and construction activities are set to reach their maximum level by June next year.

Project entering the main construction phase

This phase encompasses the depot, an overpass connecting the depot to the station, the platform, and the Immigration, Customs, and Quarantine (ICQ) complex. However, with the intensification of construction, concerns about traffic congestion have arisen.

“This project is entering the main construction phase from this month and every inch of land that will be used will be built on.

Motorists in Johor Bahru, especially along Jalan Tun Abdul Razak near JB Sentral, are urged not to park or wait for passengers along the route.

“The MRT Corp has also held discussions with the Johor Bahru City Council, the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) and the Public Works Department (JKR) to ensure smooth traffic flow,” he told Bernama on Wednesday.

Passenger traffic to reduce to just 15 minutes

Regarding the ICQ complex, which houses the Customs and Immigration Department, construction is on track and is expected to be fully completed by September 2026, with operations commencing in December of the same year.

Piling work for the four-storey ICQ building has been successfully concluded, and the actual construction will commence in the coming months. The selection of a contractor went through a thorough evaluation process, considering factors such as financial performance, project risk management, and previous experience.

Once the RTS Link is operational, passenger traffic between the Johor border and Singapore is expected to reduce to just 15 minutes, a significant improvement over the one to two hours typically required via the Johor Causeway. An electronic gate system for passport control is anticipated to expedite the process.

This development is considered a game-changer for the economic growth of the southern corridor, and mixed residential development adjacent to the RTS Link Bukit Chagar Station is already underway.

The four-kilometer RTS Link will traverse the Straits of Johor, connecting the Bukit Chagar Station in Johor Bahru to the RTS Link Woodlands North Station in Singapore. Upon completion, it is anticipated to cater to 35% of the 350,000 daily commuters crossing the Johor Causeway.