With the Christmas and New Year holidays coming up on Dec 25, 2008 and Jan 1, 2009, traffic flow through the land checkpoints at Woodlands and Tuas is expected to be heavy over the coming festive periods.

For departures, the traffic build-up is expected to start from Dec 24, 2008 (Wednesday).

For arrivals, traffic is expected to be particularly heavy on the evenings of Dec 28, (Sunday), Jan 1, 2009 (Thursday) and Jan 4, 2009 (Sunday).

Travellers intending to use the land checkpoints during the peak periods should take note of the following messages from the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA).

Travellers have a part to play

The best way to avoid the congestion is to adjust your travel plans and avoid the peak periods altogether. With enhanced security checks, traffic build-up is inevitable, particularly when a large number of travellers want to use the checkpoints at the same time.

If you really need to travel during the peak periods, ICA advises to maintain lane discipline to ease congestion at the land checkpoints.

To avoid the congestion at the checkpoints, ICA encourages car-pooling or make use of public transport.

Singaporean travellers with valid passports and who are registered with the National Registration Office can use the eIACS (Enhanced Immigration Automated Clearance System) lanes at the Bus Halls for immigration clearance.

Travellers are reminded to ensure that they are carrying their own passports before presenting themselves for immigration clearance at the checkpoints. ICA has detected a number of cases where travellers presented the wrong passports for immigration clearance. This has affected clearance efficiency and caused inconvenience to other travellers.

In addition, travellers should also make sure that they do not bring unlawful or prohibited goods into Singapore. The list of controlled and prohibited items is set out on ICA's website http://www.ica.gov.sg.

Traffic information

Travellers departing Singapore by land will be able to know in advance the traffic situation at Tuas and Woodlands Checkpoint from the LTA's Expressway Monitoring & Advisory System (EMAS) installed along AYE and BKE respectively.

You can also call the traffic information hotline at 6863-0117, listen to TrafficWatch on the radio or visit LTA's One Motoring website (http://www.onemotoring.com.sg) to check on latest traffic conditions at the land checkpoints before embarking on your journey.