Relax - Finding the missing link in the Causeway

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Finding the missing link in the Causeway

By Syed Umar Ariff, New Straits Times | Sat, Jan 16 2010

Travellers between Johor and Singapore have been driven to distraction by the traffic congestion on the bridge that could no longer accommodate the increased traffic. Syed Umar Ariff finds out what is being done to ease the situation.

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THE Causeway linking Johor Baru and Singapore is more than a landmark - it is a sign of the bilateral ties between Malaysia and the republic.

However, the link is severely marred by the massive traffic jams of more than 135,000 motorists commuting daily through it.

The lanes are now inadequate lanes for the increased number of vehicles.

The congestion is also more marked on the Malaysian side as the old Causeway checkpoint complex's lack of facilities was said to worsen the jam.

With the opening of the new Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex (CIQ), the Sultan Iskandar Building on Dec 16, 2008, traffic flow has somewhat improved as the complex is equipped with modern facilities to deal with the rush of commuters.

But congestion is now taking place at the new CIQ itself, and many are attributing the problem to the cancellation of the Scenic Bridge project in 2006 -- a new bridge that was supposed to replace the 87-year-old Causeway.

The new bridge was designed to be connected to the Sultan Iskandar Building, with more lanes for a bigger capacity for traffic.

However, plans are afoot to build another lane to ease congestion at the complex.

Works Minister Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor had announced that the new lane would be a ramp leading to the new eastern dispersal link on the Johor side.

It is due to be completed by March 8 next year.

Shaziman said once the new lane was completed, there would be three lanes for cars to enter Johor Baru after the customs checkpoint.

Several routes, called Medium-Term Link (MTL), will also be completed by the end of next year.

"The work is 47 per cent complete. The MTL costs RM253 million (S$105.3 million)," said Shaziman.

The 1km-link has a dual carriageway of four lanes that tapers into three lanes upon entry at the Causeway.

The CIQ complex was launched by Sultan Iskandar of Johor.

In his speech, he said the state was fortunate to have such a building that served as a main entry point into the country.

"The building is a landmark in Johor's history. Hopefully, it will provide better amenities for the people," said Sultan Iskandar.

The largest CIQ complex in the country, the RM1.3 billion project houses 21 federal and state government agencies, as well as private firms.

It is the transit point for more than nine million people travelling between Malaysia and Singapore each year.

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