APROPOSAL by the Johor government to divert all heavy vehicles heading to Singapore to the Second Link could become a reality as early as next year.
State Public Works, Rural and Regional Committee chairman Datuk Hasni Mohammad said a study on the proposal, which began two years ago, and was conducted by the State Economic Planning Unit (EPU), was scheduled to be finalised by the end of the year.
The proposal will include several considerations such as “time management”, which is an arrangement for lorries to use the Causeway at certain hours of the day.
This could likely lead to a ban on heavy vehicles, especially lorries, during peak hours at the Causeway, when traffic congestion is at its worst.
However, transport groups, such as the Malaysia Tipper Lorry Operators’ Association, hoped the Johor authorities would first upgrade the Second Link’s infrastructure to accommodate more lorries and standardise toll rates at both the Second Link and Causeway.
Hasni said the Johor government was in advanced stages of finalising the proposal via its state EPU after having gathered input from various stakeholders.
“The state EPU has been in discussions with the Transport Ministry on the matter, and we hope to have a final proposal soon, definitely by the end of the year,” Hasni told the New Straits Times.
Hasni said that besides the Transport Ministry, the state EPU had received feedback from the Singaporean authorities and players in the transportation industry.
He said one of the concerns the transportation industry had was the toll charges they had to pay at the two entry points.
“The toll and other charges at the Causeway vary with those at the Second Link. The transport companies want the authorities to come up with uniform charges, or give them discounts when using the Second Link,” said Hasni.
Lorries at the Second Link are charged a toll of RM17.10, and trailers, RM34.30. At the Causeway, lorries are charged RM10.20, and trailers, RM13.60.
Hasni said one of the proposals being studied was to allow heavy vehicles to use the Causeway at certain hours of the day.
“The ‘time management’ method is an aspect being looked into. We may allow these vehicles to use the Causeway at certain hours, and use the Second Link the rest of the time,” said Hasni.
The issue of banning heavy vehicles from using the Causeway was first raised by the Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar two years ago, as a way to reduce traffic congestion at the checkpoint.
Massive congestion has been occurring on the Causeway, particularly at the lorry lanes, affecting all other vehicles heading to Singapore.
In December 2015, lorry drivers endured a six-hour crawl on the 1km-long Causeway, instead of the two hours they normally went through to reach the Singapore customs checkpoint.
The congestion at the time was due to Singaporean authorities conducting thorough security checks at entry points after a deadly terror attack in Paris, France.
Malaysia Tipper Lorry Operators’ Association president Chia Jee Onn hoped the state government would share the final proposal with related associations before submitting it for approval.
“Although the state EPU has held a few meetings with the association, and we have voiced our concerns and suggestions, we hope we can see the final proposal when it is completed, to see if they have taken note of our concerns,” said Chia.
He said among the concerns the association had were the toll and other charges, as well as the Second Link’s infrastructure and facilities.
Chia said the amenities at the Second Link must be upgraded and expanded to accommodate the influx of more lorries and their drivers and attendants.