Singaporeans braving the roads to Johor Bahru (JB) on Polling Day, 3 May 2024, are in for a long wait. The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) has reported delays of up to five hours at both the Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints.
Traffic Update from ICA
According to an update by ICA posted on their Facebook page, there’s been “extremely heavy departure traffic”. By 2pm, the authority noted that delays had improved slightly, now manageable at around three hours.
Current Traffic Conditions
- Tailbacks from Malaysia estimated at about 3km at both checkpoints.
- The backup at the Second Link extends all the way to the Malaysian side of the bridge.
- Real-time traffic monitoring website Jalanow suggested a 38-minute wait to enter Malaysia via the Causeway, while close to 2 hours was expected from the Second Link.
Election Day Excitement
As millions of Singaporeans began casting their votes for the country’s 14th General Election, many took to social media to lighten the mood. Netizens cheekily suggested that the heavy traffic could be attributed to Marine Parade residents who, as they joked, didn’t need to vote since they were already in the constituency.
The Ministry of Education (MOE) also declared 5 May a school holiday, giving students a longer weekend—perfect timing for those considering a quick getaway after voting.
Travelers Advised to Plan Ahead
The ICA has strongly advised all travellers to check for traffic conditions prior to their journey—a wise step given the unexpected delays expected amidst the polling festivities.