Johor wants to ban heavy vehicles from using the Causeway, says public works official

JOHOR BARU (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - Johor wants to ban heavy vehicles from using the Causeway to transport goods from Singapore, in an effort to reduce traffic congestion at the link.

State Public Works, Rural and Regional Development chairman Hasni Mohammad said a proposal on the directive would be submitted to the Federal Government for further action.

He said banning heavy vehicles from using the Causeway here would facilitate and make way for the construction of the proposed rapid transit system (RTS) linking Johor Baru and Singapore.

"His Majesty (Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Sultan Iskandar) had earlier this year brought up the issue to the state government and we'll submit the proposal to the Transport Ministry," Datuk Hasni told reporters in a press conference after launching the intervarsity engineering leadership programme 2015 at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Skudai Campus in Johor.

Mr Hasni said Sultan Ibrahim said that heavy vehicles should use the Second Link permanently, instead of the Causeway.

He said although the Causeway had been designated as the route for lorries from Malaysia and Thailand under the Asean Protocol 1, Malaysia and Singapore could designate the Second Link for them to use the link.

"We don't see any issue with Singapore as it will help to improve connectivity and accessibility at the Causeway. This benefits Johor and Singapore economically," said Mr Hasni.

Johor Baru and Woodlands in Singapore are linked by the 1.056km-long Causeway, with 80,000 to 100,000 vehicles using it daily.

Johor and the Republic are also connected via the Second Link, that connects Tanjung Kupang, Gelang Patah, to Tuas in Singapore.

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