Huge Crowds & Long Queues At Singapore Land Checkpoints Entering JB Ahead Of Good Friday Weekend
The Good Friday long weekend is finally upon us, with three glorious days of rest to enjoy.
Unsurprisingly, many Singaporeans and Malaysians working here are heading across the border for the break.
That will mean only one thing — heavy traffic was predictably reported at Singapore’s border checkpoints ahead of the long weekend.
Source: Facebook
At Woodlands, the queues were so long that the tailback stretched back all the way to the Seletar Expressway (SLE).
ICA warns of delays at checkpoints on Good Friday weekend
As Good Friday is on 7 Apr this year, the long weekend officially started on Thursday (6 Apr) as border crossers got an early start.
That morning, the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) warned of delays at both Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints for those departing Singapore.
They advised travellers to check traffic conditions before embarking on their journeys.
Good Friday weekend jams start as early as 3pm plus at checkpoints
True enough, the jam at Tuas started as early as 3.37pm on Thursday, according to social media posts from the Malaysia-Singapore Border Crossers Facebook group.
Source: Facebook
At the time, the wait was already estimated to be up to more than four hours at the Second Link and close to six hours at the Causeway.
Source: Facebook
At 5.19pm, it could only get worse, with the queue to the Woodlands Checkpoint stretching back to the Bukit Timah Expressway (BKE).
After getting past Singapore customs, it was just as bad, with both sides of the Causeway bridge congested. However, while the queue towards Singapore was estimated at a manageable one hour 40 minutes, the wait to get into JB was almost three hours.
Source: Facebook
Those on the Second Link would find themselves stuck in the jam right after customs, on the bright heading into Malaysia.
Source: Facebook
Human jam at Woodlands Checkpoint
Those who travelled to Malaysia without driving a private vehicle wouldn’t fare much better.
At 5.12pm, the human jam at the Woodlands Checkpoint was such that people couldn’t even make it off the escalators, according to their photos.
Source: Facebook
Due to the traffic jam, many travellers would’ve decided to ditch their buses and walk across the Causeway instead, with people seen making the journey on foot as early as 5.59pm.
Source: Facebook
At 7.40pm, ICA said there was very heavy departure traffic at Tuas and Woodlands checkpoints.
This was following continuous tailbacks from Malaysia.
Sure enough, at 7.48pm, estimated waiting times at both crossings soared higher still. The congestion at Tuas even overtook the jam at Woodlands, with more than seven hours’ wait predicted at Tuas compared with six hours at Woodlands.
Source: Facebook
A netizen said the traffic situation at Tuas checkpoint was “worsening rapidly”.
Source: Facebook
After passing Singapore customs, a sea of motorcycles was seen inching towards JB at 7.45pm.
Source: Facebook
Over at the Causeway, the jam had already stretched back to Woodlands Avenue 3 at 7.32pm.
Source: Facebook
Huge crowds at Woodlands Checkpoint
For those taking bus, their queue would start at the bridge towards the Woodlands Checkpoint. This was the dismal scene there at 7.28pm:
Source: Facebook
The crowd even came to a standstill at one point, according to a photo shared at 8.03pm.
Source: Facebook
At 8.26pm, the crowd was so thick it seemed like it was difficult even to get on the bridge.
Source: Facebook
After getting past immigration, it was a struggle even to get on one’s bus due to the huge crowds.
Source: Facebook
This also applied to those taking public buses, with a long wait in store due to the sheer number of people.
Source: Facebook
Even by 9.10pm, the crowd on the bridge hadn’t abated.
Source: Facebook
This would’ve prompted more people to cross over on their own two legs rather than get stuck in buses.
Source: Facebook
Jams still going strong at night
As the night wore on, the traffic jams were still going strong.
At 9.43pm, the sea of motorbikes at Tuas remained intact.
Source: Facebook
At 10.59pm, the ICA told motorists that the departure traffic at the Woodlands Checkpoint had extended beyond the SLE.
Source: ICA on Facebook
A motorist travelling in the other direction from JB to Singapore at 11.24pm shared a video clip of the long line of vehicles on the other side.
Source: Facebook
Another motorist posted a video clip at 12.34am on 7 Apr that showed pedestrians still crossing the Causeway despite the late hour.
Source: Facebook
She said the traffic jam started all the way from the SLE exit to the BKE, at a time when many people would be asleep in bed.
At 12.23am, ICA updated that “very heavy departure traffic” persisted at Woodlands extending beyond the SLE.
Source: ICA on Facebook
At 1.30, ICA said the tailback had shortened somewhat, extending till Woodlands Avenue 3.
Source: Immigration & Checkpoints Authority on Facebook
However, traffic was still very heavy, with an estimated time of up to almost three hours to get to JB.
Source: Immigration & Checkpoints Authority on Facebook
At 2.54am, a queue of vehicles was still on the Causeway, according to traffic cameras.
Source: One Motoring
Due to the heavy traffic, do consider postponing your trip to Malaysia by land if you can.
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Featured image adapted from Facebook and Facebook.
