Covered pedestrian path planned for Johor causeway

A covered pedestrian footpath costing RM30 million is being proposed for the Johor Causeway as a short-term solution to ease traffic congestion. (Bernama pic)

JOHOR BAHRU: A covered pedestrian walkway costing RM30 million is being proposed as a short-term solution to traffic congestion at the Johor Causeway, home minister Muhyiddin Yassin said today.

Muhyiddin, who heads a special committee on the Causeway congestion problem, said the committee agreed to proceed with the proposal for the footpath “but we have to first discuss the proposal with the federal and state governments and PLUS Malaysia”.

The committee also agreed to undertake a feasibility study, costing RM5 million, on a proposed third bridge between Johor and Singapore.

Muhyiddin said the study would be conducted next year after the funds were obtained and would take nine months to be completed.

“The study will also look at the capacity of the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine complex at Bangunan Sultan Iskandar and Sultan Abu Bakar Complex, which are currently handling a very high volume of visitors. It will look into whether both facilities should be upgraded.

“I am told that almost 70% of visitors use the Causeway,” he told reporters today after chairing the first meeting of the committee. - FMT