Woodlands Checkpoint to be expanded to 5 times its current size, construction work will start in 2025

Construction work on the expansion of Woodlands Checkpoint will begin in 2025, with completion expected in phases from 2028. Operations will not be affected during construction.

As part of an ongoing effort to improve clearance efficiency and throughput at the land border with Malaysia, the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) will be redeveloping Woodlands Checkpoint by expanding it to five times its current size. 

As it stands, Woodlands Checkpoint now sees around 300,000 travellers per day and even more during long weekends and holidays. ICA forecasts that by 2050, this number will increase to 400,000 per day. 

To meet future traffic and security demands, ICA aims to lower the average travel time during peak periods from the current 60 minutes to just 15 minutes. They aim to achieve this by incorporating even more automation such as automated in-car immigration clearance systems.

ICA also seeks to provide holding areas for traffic within the checkpoint to reduce traffic from the checkpoint spilling out onto local roads and the Bukit Timah Expressway (BKE) near Woodlands Checkpoint. 

Phase 1 will redevelop the Old Woodlands Town Centre and parts of the BKE.

The construction of the redeveloped Woodlands Checkpoint will be done in phases, with Phase 1 involving an extension at the Old Woodlands Town Centre (OWTC) being built to substantially increase the capacity for cargo vehicles, cars, and motorcycles. ICA says the Phase 1 extension will add 21 cargo lanes and 78 car lanes which increase cargo clearance capacity by 30% and car clearance capacity by 95%. 

An artist's impression of the redevelopment of Old Woodlands Town Centre.

Work on Phase 1 and the accompanying BKE extension is expected to commence in 2025 and will be progressively completed from 2028. Once this is finished, the Old Woodlands Checkpoint will be demolished and redeveloped to be integrated into the OWTC extension. This complete project is expected to be fully operational in 2032. 

Subsequent phases of the redevelopment are currently subject to further design studies but are planned to include building clearance facilities on both acquired and reclaimed land, as well as retrofitting the current Woodlands Checkpoint. 

ICA will share more details once further studies are completed.

Photos: Immigrations & Checkpoints Authority

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