The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) has implemented additional safety measures for contraflow operations at Woodlands Checkpoint following a head-on collision that occurred on 24 May 2025.
A Singapore-registered car heading towards Malaysia collided with a Malaysia-registered bus approaching Singapore along the Causeway at about 5:30am. The car driver and his three passengers were taken conscious to the hospital.
The accident happened before barriers were put in place to divert departing car traffic away from a lane that had its traffic flow reversed to accommodate heavy vehicles arriving from Malaysia. Preliminary investigations found that the contraflow operation was activated before barriers were put in place, which was not in accordance with safety procedures.
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ICA suspended contraflow operations over the weekend at both Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints immediately after the incident. The authority conducted a full review of safety measures before restarting operations.
Contraflow Operations Resume with New Traffic Management Measures
Operations resumed on 26 May with enhanced safety protocols. The media was invited to observe the new procedures on 30 May.
The new safety measures include the use of cones with reflector discs and blinker lights to more clearly indicate to motorists where traffic flow has been reversed. Safety barriers, which have always been deployed during contraflow operations, now have blinker lights mounted on them.
At about 4pm on 30 May, departing traffic at the checkpoint was halted to allow ICA officers to prepare for the conversion of one of the three departing lanes into an arrival lane. Two ICA vehicles – a white van and a black SUV – headed towards the departure lanes as a “lockdown” was imposed at the departure exits to prevent vehicles from entering these lanes.
About six officers were involved in setting up traffic cones along the lane, some of which had reflector discs attached. The cones are now placed about 15m to 20m further down the contraflow lane to give motorists advance notice that they need to merge into the remaining lanes.
The departing lane that gets converted is also known as a “flexi lane” that is used by vehicles exiting the cargo zone. While usually meant for cargo vehicles heading to Malaysia, the zone can also be converted for cars to pass through when departing car traffic gets heavy.
Once the lane is converted, vehicles exiting the cargo zone are directed to merge into the other two lanes. At about 4:30pm during the media observation, heavy vehicles coming from Malaysia were diverted into the lane, easing building congestion towards Singapore.
Weekend Traffic Volume Drives Technology Solutions
Senior Assistant Commissioner Maran Subrahmaniyan, commander of ICA’s Woodlands Command, revealed that more than one million travellers cross the borders through Singapore’s land checkpoints on weekends.
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Given current infrastructural constraints and increasing travel volume, especially comprising cars and motorbikes, ICA has been leveraging technology to better monitor and manage traffic at the land checkpoints. Officers monitor both vehicular and human traffic through the checkpoint on large screens at the operations centre.
Contraflow operations at Singapore’s side of the Causeway are part of ICA’s measures during daily peak hours to manage traffic congestion. The changing of traffic flow at departure lanes accommodates heavy vehicles arriving from Malaysia during peak periods.
SAC Maran said ICA has put in place additional layers of checks to confirm safety protocols are in place before contraflow operations are activated. The authority will continue to review measures implemented at the checkpoints with increasing traffic volume.
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