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: Singapore’s Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) has rejected reports that a major power outage at Woodlands Checkpoint caused severe congestion along the Singapore-Johor Bahru Causeway.

Instead, ICA said planned electrical maintenance and two lorry breakdowns on the Malaysian side contributed to the traffic problems on Wednesday (Nov 4).

The clarification followed a report by Malaysian newspaper The Star, which attributed the congestion, reportedly starting around noon, to a “massive power outage” at Woodlands Checkpoint. In response to media queries, ICA confirmed that no power outage occurred at the checkpoint that day.

Planned maintenance affected cargo clearance

According to ICA, electrical maintenance took place at Old Woodlands Checkpoint between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

During the work, the Old Woodlands Checkpoint was temporarily unavailable to clear arriving lorries. However, cargo clearance continued at Woodlands Checkpoint.

Some Singapore-bound lorries consequently built up along the Causeway before operations at the old checkpoint resumed at around 4 p.m.

The traffic situation then took another turn when two lorries broke down on the Malaysian side.

Two broken-down lorries blocked a Causeway lane

ICA said the first breakdown happened at around 4:30 p.m., followed by another at approximately 6:30 p.m.

Both vehicles were heading towards Singapore. Their breakdowns blocked one of the three arrival lanes, causing queues to stretch from the affected locations back into Malaysia.

The evening peak traffic added to the congestion, making the journey even slower for motorists and workers returning home.

The first lorry was removed at 9:50 pm., while the second was cleared at around 12.22 am on Thursday (Nov 5).

ICA said it issued updates on its Facebook page to warn travellers about the breakdowns, expected delays and the reopening of the affected lane.

Johor-Singapore travel times reached 90 minutes

The delays were substantial by Wednesday evening. At 10.15 pm, Checkpoint.sg recorded a journey time of 60 to 90 minutes from Johor Bahru to Singapore.

Travellers heading in the opposite direction faced estimated journey times of 50 to 75 minutes.

Meanwhile, The Star reported that all counters at Malaysia’s Bangunan Sultan Iskandar (BSI) customs, immigration and quarantine complex were operating.

Malaysian authorities also opened additional lanes and deployed more police officers around BSI and major access roads to manage the evening rush.

The episode demonstrates how a few disruptions can affect thousands of people travelling between Singapore and Johor.

A power outage made for a dramatic explanation, but ICA’s account points to maintenance work and two vehicle breakdowns instead. For commuters, checking official checkpoint updates before setting off is one of the best ways to avoid unexpected delays.