On 8 October 2022, the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) was conducting a scheduled maintenance of the power source at Woodlands Checkpoint at around 11.40pm. The timing was chosen as it had the lowest traffic volume at the checkpoint. The servicing required ICA to disconnect the normal source and replace components parts serving that source. As part of the maintenance, the backup power generator, which was serviced prior to the scheduled maintenance and was also tested earlier in the day, was activated to provide power during this period. However, in the course of the maintenance at 12.20am on 9 October 2022, the backup power generator failed and resulted in a power outage which also disrupted the operations at the checkpoint.

2.          While immediate steps were taken to restore the power supply at the checkpoint, ICA immediately activated its contingency plan to manage the traffic heading towards Woodlands Checkpoint. These include working with the Malaysian authorities to route inbound vehicles towards the Second Link. ICA officers and the Traffic Police were also deployed on BKE and Woodlands Crossing to divert outbound vehicles departing Singapore to Tuas Checkpoint. For arriving vehicles and travellers who were already on the Causeway towards Woodlands Checkpoint or within the checkpoint, contingency measures were implemented to clear them without compromising security. To better manage arriving traffic, Old Woodlands Checkpoint was also opened and additional ICA officers were deployed there to facilitate immigration clearance.

3.          Radio broadcasts, Expressway Monitoring & Advisory System and ICA Facebook were activated and constantly updated to inform travellers who had plans to use Woodlands Checkpoint.

4.          At around 4.00am, power was restored and ICA began testing its systems to ensure they were operational. From around 5.15am onwards, immigration clearance operations for different modes of transport gradually resumed and were back to normalcy at around 6.25am.

5.          ICA regrets the inconvenience caused and would like to thank travellers for their understanding, patience and cooperation with officers on the ground.

IMMIGRATION & CHECKPOINTS AUTHORITY 
09 OCTOBER 2022