| Malaysia–Singapore Second Link Laluan Kedua Malaysia–Singapura |
|
|---|---|
| Official name | Malaysia–Singapore Second Link |
| Carries | Motor vehicles |
| Crosses | Straits of Johor |
| Locale | Malaysia Second Link Expressway Singapore Ayer Rajah Expressway |
| Maintained by | Malaysia PLUS Expressway Berhad Linkedua Malaysia Berhad Singapore Land Transport Authority (LTA) |
| Designer | Malaysia Government of Malaysia Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) United Engineers Malaysia Berhad (UEM) Singapore Government of Singapore Land Transport Authority (LTA) |
| Design | box girder bridge |
| Total length | 1920m |
| Width | 25m |
| Longest span | 150m |
| Constructed by | United Engineers Malaysia Berhad (UEM) |
| Opened | 1998 |
Malaysia–Singapore Second Link (Malay: Laluan Kedua Malaysia–Singapura, Chinese: 第二通道) is a bridge connecting Singapore and Johor, Malaysia. In Singapore, it is officially known as the Tuas Second Link. The bridge was built to reduce the traffic congestion at the Johor–Singapore Causeway, and was opened to traffic on 2 January 1998. The twin-deck bridge supports a dual-three lane carriageway linking Kampong Ladang at Tanjung Kupang, Johor to Jalan Ahmad Ibrahim at Tuas, Singapore. The total length of the bridge over water is 1,920 m (6,300 ft).
At Malaysian side, the bridge is connected to the Second Link Expressway (E3) (Malay: Lebuhraya Laluan Kedua Malaysia-Singapura) also known as Linkedua Expressway, which links from Senai North Interchange (exit 253) at North-South Expressway, Senai Airport and Taman Perling, Johor Bahru via its extension known as Johor Bahru Parkway. In Singapore, the bridge connects to the Ayer Rajah Expressway.
The checkpoint on Singapore side, the Tuas Checkpoint, was built on 19.6 ha (47.4 acres) of reclaimed land at a cost of S$485 million. Designed by CPG Corporation, it involved the use of 54,000 cubic metres of concrete and 18,000 tones of reinforcing steel, and won the Architectural Design Award and Best Buildable Design Award awarded by the Singapore Institute of Architects and the Building and Construction Authority respectively [1].
Usually, traveling along the second link is much faster than traveling on the Causeway, as the traffic is smoother in both directions. However, during festive periods (especially Chinese New Year, Hari Raya, Christmas and Deepavali), the huge amount of traffic going between Malaysia and Singapore still leads to massive jams on both the causeway and the second link.
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The approach to the bridge is via the Second Link Expressway, which can be accessed by exiting the North-South Expressway (E2) at exit 253 Senai North Interchange. Alternatively, motorists can also enter the expressway via Taman Perling which also joins with Pasir Gudang Highway (Federal route 17 and Skudai Highway (Federal route 1). The expressway link to Taman Perling is also known as Pontian-Johor Bahru Parkway.
The bridge is directly accessed via the Ayer Rajah Expressway, along with other supporting roads around the vicinity of the Tuas industrial area.
The idea of building a second link between Malaysia and Singapore was first raised in July 1980 by then-Menteri Besar Othman Saat. Gelang Patah was raised as a viable site due to its distant proximity from Johor Bahru, and the suggestion was raised to tackle growing traffic jams on the causeway.[1] The Malaysian federal Government welcomed Othman's plan, and the Johor State Government formed a committee to study the feasibility of building the second link.[2]
In July 1989, United Engineers Malaysia Berhad (UEM) submitted a proposal to the government of Malaysia to privatize the construction of a second link to Singapore. The acceptance of the proposal brought about the signing of a concession agreement in July 1993, giving exclusive rights and authority to UEM to design, construct, manage, operate and maintain the bridge and expressways for a period of 30 years commencing 27 July 1993.
Following this, a novation agreement was executed in May 1994, whereby UEM assigned all its rights, liabilities and obligations in respect of the concession agreement to Linkedua (Malaysia) Berhad, a wholly owned subsidiary of UEM.
The construction of the bridge required the cooperation of the government of Malaysia and the government of the Republic of Singapore. On 22 March 1994, an inter-government agreement was signed defining the responsibilities of both governments with regard to the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of the bridge. Each government was responsible for the construction of the portion the bridge which fell within its borders, based on a common agreed design. A joint committee comprising representatives of each government was formed to oversee the implementation of this Malaysia-Singapore Second Crossing project.
The major components of the project are the Second Crossing bridge, forty-four kilometers of expressways, a Customs, Immigration and Quarantine complex, 3 toll plazas, 2 rest and service areas and other ancillary facilities. The bridge was designed to accommodate up to 200,000 vehicles a day.
The Second Link was first opened to traffic on 2 January 1998. It was officially opened on 18 April the same year by the Prime Ministers of both countries, namely Dato' Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad of Malaysia and Goh Chok Tong of Singapore. The Malaysia-Singapore Second Crossing heralded a new era in bilateral relations, and brought with it the promise of improved economic and social ties.
| Class | Type of vehicles | Rate (in Malaysian Ringgit (RM)) |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Motorcycles | RM1.60 |
| 1 | Passenger Cars | RM7.50 |
| 2 | Vans and other small good vehicles | RM24.40 |
| 3 | Large Trucks | RM48.90 |
| 4 | Taxis | RM8.10 |
| 5 | Buses | RM13.00 |
(Fees reduced by 30% on 1 August 2010)
| Class | Type of vehicles | Rate (in Singapore Dollar (S$))[3] |
|---|---|---|
| Motorcycles | S$0.50 | |
| Passenger Cars | S$3.20 | |
| Vans and other small good vehicles | S$7.40 | |
| Large Trucks | S$14.70 | |
| Taxis | S$2.50 | |
| Buses | S$3.90 |
When travelling by Sea, navigational aids consists of lights mounted on the bridge piers and lighted buoys placed at strategic navigational locations. The 3 sea channels dimensions are 75 m wide by 25 m high; 50 m wide by 9m (-- ft) high; and 75m (-- ft) wide by 12m (-- ft) high.
Since 1999, an annual 2nd Link Bridge Run is organized to promote sports and cross-border ties. Both countries take turns to host the event that has seen increasing numbers of participants.
Bridge Specifications
Navigational Channels
Causeway Link Route CW3 from Malaysia goes into Bukit Indah via Tuas Checkpoint from Jurong East Bus Interchange in Singapore.
Service 182 from SBS Transit calls at the bus stop outside Tuas Checkpoint but it does not cross over at Malaysia due to the height limit restrictions. Service 182M plies the exact route of Service 182 without calling at the bus stop outside Tuas Checkpoint.
| Service | Origin | Destination | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Causeway Link Cross Border Services | |||
| CW3 | Perling Mall | Jurong East Bus Interchange | |
| CW3S | Sutera Mall | Jurong East Bus Interchange | |
| CW4 | Pontian Bus Terminal | Jurong East Bus Interchange | |
| CW4S | Sutera Mall | Jurong East Bus Interchange | |
| CW6 | Bukit Indah | Boon Lay Way | |