# ICA Refutes Power Outage Claims Amid Causeway Traffic Congestion Singapore authorities clarify that lorry breakdowns and maintenance caused significant cross-border travel delays. - **Source:** [The Independent SG](https://theindependent.sg) - **Published:** 2026-11-07 - **Topic:** [world](https://brifing.si/c/world) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/7bb87187-a22d-4af5-8a44-70ad80ab986b ## Clarifying the Traffic Disruption Singapore’s Immigration and Checkpoints Authority officially rejected reports claiming a massive power outage caused severe congestion at the Woodlands Checkpoint. Instead, officials attributed the significant traffic delays on Wednesday, November 4, to planned electrical maintenance and two separate lorry breakdowns occurring on the Malaysian side of the busy Causeway. ## Maintenance Impact on Cargo Electrical maintenance work was scheduled at the Old Woodlands Checkpoint between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Wednesday. While cargo clearance operations continued at the main Woodlands Checkpoint, the temporary unavailability of the older facility caused a buildup of Singapore-bound lorries that persisted until operations resumed at approximately 4 p.m. ## Breakdowns Block Arrival Lanes The traffic situation deteriorated further when two lorries broke down on the Malaysian side of the Causeway. The first vehicle stalled at 4:30 p.m., followed by a second at 6:30 p.m. These incidents blocked one of the three available arrival lanes, significantly restricting vehicle flow during the busy evening peak period. ## Extended Recovery and Clearance The removal of the stalled vehicles took several hours, with the first lorry cleared at 9:50 p.m. and the second not removed until 12:22 a.m. on Thursday. Throughout this period, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority utilized their official Facebook page to provide real-time updates regarding expected delays and lane reopening status. ## Severe Commuter Travel Delays By 10:15 p.m. on Wednesday, travel times from Johor Bahru to Singapore reached between 60 and 90 minutes. Commuters traveling in the opposite direction faced delays of 50 to 75 minutes. These figures highlight the vulnerability of the Causeway to even minor disruptions during high-volume periods for cross-border workers. ## Malaysian Authorities Respond In response to the congestion, Malaysian authorities reported that all counters at the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar customs complex remained fully operational. To manage the evening rush, officials deployed additional police officers and opened extra lanes around the complex and major access roads to help alleviate the pressure on the border. ## Debunking Media Misinformation The clarification followed a report by the Malaysian newspaper The Star, which incorrectly cited a massive power outage at the Woodlands Checkpoint as the primary cause of the gridlock. The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority confirmed that no such power failure occurred at the checkpoint, correcting the narrative surrounding the day's events. ## Lessons for Cross-Border Travel This incident demonstrates how quickly minor mechanical failures can disrupt the movement of thousands of daily commuters between Singapore and Johor. For travelers, the event underscores the importance of monitoring official checkpoint updates before departure, as these platforms provide the most accurate information regarding potential delays and current traffic conditions. ## Sources covering this story - https://theindependent.sg/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 — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._