Singapore's ICA to expand Woodlands Checkpoint over next 10–15 years to ease traffic congestion

With traveller numbers soaring and traffic jams occurring in peak periods, the ICA’s phased redevelopment plan aims to facilitate faster clearance times, smarter tech, and a smoother cross-border journey.

Have you ever found yourself stuck in the Causeway jam at Woodlands Checkpoint (WCP)? We know we have. But relief might be on the horizon as Singapore’s Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) has announced a revamp of this busy land crossing, aiming to untangle traffic jams and keep up with the growing number of travellers.

Daily traveller numbers at Woodlands Checkpoint have surged by 22% from 269,000 in 2023 to 327,000 in 2024, with a record-breaking 376,000 travellers passing through on just one day during the 2024 year-end school holidays. Looking ahead, the average daily volume is expected to hit 400,000 by 2050.

To address this growing demand, ICA plans to redevelop and extend Woodlands Checkpoint in phases over the next 10 to 15 years. Phase One, set to begin construction in the third quarter of 2025, will include an extension at the Old Woodlands Town Centre. This phase will introduce new automated clearance facilities for cargo vehicles, arriving cars, and arriving motorcycles. The Bukit Timah Expressway (BKE) will be extended to create a direct route for vehicles exiting WCP to access the BKE, to reduce traffic congestion on local roads during peak hours.

Subsequent phases will focus on building additional clearance facilities and retrofitting the existing WCP to:

• Improve clearance efficiency across all modes of conveyance (i.e., cargo vehicles, cars, motorcycles, and buses), reducing average travel time from the current 60 minutes to 15 minutes during peak periods;
• Incorporate more automation, such as automated in-car immigration clearance systems, to increase efficiency;
• Conduct security checks away from the checkpoint core structure, to mitigate security risks, and
• Provide holding areas for traffic within the checkpoint, to reduce congestion at the BKE and along peripheral roads around the checkpoint.

The redevelopment also includes acquiring two small land parcels from the Malaysian Government (with a total area of approximately 0.79ha), allowing for expansion and enhanced security measures. Singapore’s Land Authority and ICA are working closely with Malaysia to ensure a smooth process, underscoring the strong partnership between the two countries.

READ MORE: Malaysia to possibly roll out QR code entry for travellers from 63 countries & regions starting 2026 

Lead image / ICA