Expect delays at checkpoints over school holidays

Expect delays at checkpoints over school holidays

Those planning a trip to Malaysia during the upcoming March school holidays should be prepared to face heavy traffic at the land checkpoints from tomorrow to March 24.

The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) advised motorists yesterday that traffic is likely to be extra heavy at the Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints over this weekend and the next. Travellers should expect delays over the one-week school holiday period and are advised to adjust their travel plans where necessary, it said.

With security checks, traffic build-up at the checkpoints is inevitable, ICA also said.

It reminded travellers against carrying prohibited items such as "pop-pop" firecrackers or chewing gum through the checkpoints. When bringing in dutiable or controlled items such as eggs, meat products and potted plants, they should declare them to ICA officers prior to checks.

ICA also noted "many instances" of queue-cutting by motorists during peak periods.

"ICA advises against this as it can cause severe congestion and compromise motorists' safety," it said, reminding motorists to observe traffic rules, maintain lane discipline and cooperate with checkpoint officers.

Motorists are advised to check the traffic situation at the checkpoints before embarking on their trip. They can do so via the One Motoring website or Expressway Monitoring and Advisory System installed on the Bukit Timah and Ayer Rajah expressways. Motorists can also check the ICA's Facebook page or call the traffic information hotline on 6863-0117.

~Straits Times~

Jewel Changi Airport to open on Apr 17; Terminal 2 to be expanded

Jewel Changi Airport to open on Apr 17



Jewel Changi Airport

Changi Airport’s mega retail and lifestyle development Jewel Changi Airport will open on Apr 17, Senior Minister of State for Transport Lam Pin Min said on Thursday (Mar 7).

The S$1.7 billion project, a 10-storey complex consisting of five storeys above ground and five basement floors will be home to more than 280 shops and food and beverage (F&B) outlets.

Visitors can look forward to the return of fast food chain A&W, an 11-screen cineplex and a Pokemon merchandise store.



A&W, Shake Shack and a Pokemon Centre are set to open in Changi Airport's Jewel. (Photos: AFP, AFP/TORU YAMANAKA)

SNEAK PEEK

Ahead of its opening on Apr 17, Singapore residents will get to have a sneak peek of the new development, Changi Airport Group (CAG) said on Thursday.

From Apr 11 to 16, the public will be able to visit Jewel Changi Airport as part of a ticketed event, which will be free of charge. A total of about 500,000 tickets will be available.

Registration will open online at jewelpreview.com at 6am on Mar 12. Each member of the public can register for up to four participants.

“During the preview, which will run in four three-hour time blocks from 10am to 10 pm daily, visitors will be able to explore various points of interest in Jewel, such as the lush greenery of the four-storey Forest Valley with two walking trails and take in the magnificent 40m Rain Vortex, the world’s tallest indoor waterfall,” CAG said in a news release.

“They will also be able to shop and dine at more than 90 per cent of Jewel’s 280 shopping and dining outlets.”

The new T1/Jewel car park – spanning five underground levels B2M to B5 - will also be fully operational from Apr 11.

Basement 2M and 2 of the car park are meant for short-term parking, and the charges are 4 cents per minute only for the first 90 minutes and S$5 per 30-minute block thereafter. Parking at all other levels is charged at 4 cents per minute, which is the same rate as other Changi Airport car parks.

ENHANCED TRAVEL EXPERIENCE

Speaking during his ministry’s Committee of Supply debate, Dr Lam said that on top of lifestyle offerings, Jewel Changi Airport will offer aviation facilities that will improve the travel experience for passengers, such as early check-in facilities, integrated ticketing and baggage services for fly-cruise and fly-coach transfers.

Meanwhile, F&B brands that are setting up shop in the complex, and in the region for the first time, also include Swiss chocolatier Laderach, Norwegian casual seafood restaurant Pink Fish and American fast food chain Shake Shack.

Jewel will also be home to a long list of homegrown brands, including design retailer Naiise, gallery store Supermama and Tiger Beer which will be launching a first-in-the-world Tiger Street Lab at level 5, offering exclusive seasonal brews.

Local chef Violet Oon will open her largest restaurant to date – more than 350 sq m in size – offering local delicacies, such as dry laksa.

TERMINAL 2 TO UNDERGO UPGRADING WORKS

In his speech, Dr Lam added that upgrading works on the airport’s terminal 2 will “start soon”.

He added that the terminal will be “expanded and refreshed”, and would include automated check-in kiosks, biometric-enabled bag-drops and automated immigration gates.

Dr Lam said the facilities are to offer passengers “greater convenience” as they move from check-in to immigration to their flight.

The move comes after Terminal 4 was developed as Changi Airport’s first passenger terminal to have a fully automated departure process.

Source: CNA/am Read more at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/jewel-changi-airport-to-open-on-apr-17-terminal-2-to-be-expanded-11320226