For most people travelling to or from Singapore, the 100-year old Causeway across the Straits of Johor and the Second Link are the usually places for the crossing. As traffic volumes have increased and immigration procedures have also become more stringent, long queues have been a common sight at both sides.

There have been various proposals to add connections across the Straits including, at one time, a wider 6-lane ‘crooked bridge’ envisioned by former PM Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad. However, up till today, there are still only two crossings for vehicles.

Less well known is an alternative way to cross using the ferry services from Tanjung Belungkor and Desaru in Johor to Tanah Merah in Singapore. These ferry services, which commenced in the middle of last year, are not for cars though but provide an easier way for people to get across (about 35 minutes) instead of going through the jam at the Causeway and Second Link.