Woodlands Checkpoint to be expanded to improve traffic flow, travel time and security

Woodlands Checkpoint will be redeveloped and expanded to improve traffic flow, travel time and security, announced the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) and the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) in a joint statement on May 26, Thursday.

The extension will be built at Old Woodlands Town Centre (OWTC) to clear heavy goods vehicles and motorcycles, and surrounding local road networks will also be upgraded.

Some changes to expect include travel time being reduced by as much as four times, as well as security checks in a forward and upfront area, away from the main parts of the checkpoint, to reduce potential risks.

The expansion will also acquire nine Housing and Development Board (HDB) blocks in Marsiling Crescent/Lane. These blocks are Blocks 210 to 218.

Owners of the sold flats at Blocks 212 to 218 will be offered the same rehousing benefits as those offered under the Selective En bloc Redevelopment Scheme (SERS).

These benefits include compensation based on the market rate of the flat as at the date of the acquisition, as well as the option to purchase a new flat with a fresh 99-year lease at subsidised prices.

Flat owners will also be provided with a removal allowance from HDB to help cover some costs when moving, as well as the stamp and legal fees for the purchase of a comparable replacement flat.

Eligible rental flat tenants will also be given rehousing benefits, and eligible tenants of rental spaces will be given clearance benefits in line with past rehousing exercises.

The extension and redevelopment will be carried out progressively and agencies will work to minimise disruption to residents. 

HDB will also build about 1,100 new replacement flats at Woodlands Street 13 so that residents can continue living in a familiar environment. 

The new flats will be a 10-minute walk from Marsiling MRT, and have easy access to Marsiling Mall and Causeway Point by bus. Residents can also enjoy recreational activities at the adjacent Marsiling Park.

Construction for these flats will begin in the third quarter of 2023, and is estimated to to completed by the fourth quarter of 2027.

Ever since the full reopening of land borders on Apr 1, arrival volumes have already returned to over 90 per cent of the weekend volume during pre-COVID times.

ICA predicts the traffic volume at Woodlands Checkpoint to increase by almost 40 per cent by 2050. This means that the daily average number of travellers could reach around 400,000, whereas there were only about 300,000 travellers daily in 2019.

“We expect daily volumes to soon reach pre-COVID levels, and continue to increase thereafter,” said ICA. 

“If the overall clearance capacity is not increased, the travel time for vehicular traffic could increase by more than 60-70 per cent during peak periods by 2050.”

HDB, SLA and ICA will work closely with owners and tenants to assist and address any concerns through the process. There will be door-to-door visits to each household, as well as a series of sharing sessions to provide owners with more information.

These sharing sessions will be from May 28 to 29 from 9.30am to 6pm and May 30 to 31 from 12.30pm to 9.30pm. They will be held at the void deck of Block 213 Marsiling Crescent.