Lorry service providers cry foul over Causeway heavy vehicle ban

NUSAJAYA: The Johor Lorry Operators' Association feels the requirement for heavy vehicles to use the Second Link in Gelang Patah to enter Singapore from March next year, will increase the transportation costs and create chaos for the industry.
Its president Anthony Tan Boon Siong said if a lorry entered Singapore through the Causeway checkpoint, "the toll rate is much lower than using the Second Link ... it is at least 100% more expensive at the Second Link."
He was commenting on the announcement by state Public Works and Rural and Regional Development committee chairman Datuk Hasni Mohammad in the state assembly today that all heavy vehicles including vegetables lorries will only be allowed to use the Second Link to enter Singapore from March.
Currently, all general cargo lorries use the Causeway except those with chemical cargo which is restricted to using only the Second Link.
Tan suggested the government reduce the toll rate at the Second Link to minimise the difference in costs.
He said lorries departing Pengerang or North East Johor need to travel a longer route compared to using the Causeway.
He also said lorries entering Singapore via the Second Link would need to make a pan-island (Singapore) journey before arriving at Woodlands which would, among others, result in sky rocketing costs.
Meanwhile, Hasni, during a break in the state assembly sitting said a comprehensive study on the new measures is expected to be completed in March.
These included building a special lorry park, adding more checking lanes for lorries and other facilities to ease the traffic at the Second Link.