From the tranquil waterfront district of Punggol, the skyline of towering cranes and industrial buildings of Johor's Pasir Gudang looms across the water. Boats cruise along the deep Johor Strait and wild otters splash around near the jetty.

Here on the north-eastern tip of Singapore, a new bridge leading to Malaysia could one day become a reality, if the idea floated by Malaysian Land Minister Xavier Jayakumar earlier this month to ease traffic jams receives the thumbs-up from the governments of both countries. It will then be the third road crossing, in addition to the Causeway in Woodlands and the Second Link bridge in Tuas.