JOHOR BARU: The plan to build a covered, three-storey pedestrian walkway on the Causeway received the thumbs up from travellers who frequently commute between Johor and Singapore.
Most of them feel that the walkway will provide comfort and safety for people who would walk on the busy overland link than endure traffic congestion.
Some of them said it would be a joy to use a walkway built for pedestrians.
Singaporean Ben Low, 66, said travellers would no longer have to suffer from the hot sun or rain if the walkway was built.
“It is a good idea by the Malaysian government. It would make it more comfortable for travellers,” said Low, who travels to Johor Baru several times a week.
He said it took him about 20 minutes to walk across the Causeway.
“Although I no longer walk as often as I used to, I know the hardship that pedestrians on the Causeway go through.
“This walkway will benefit us.”
Another commuter, Osman Talib, 36, said besides comfort, a walkway would ensure the safety of pedestrians.
“What is more important is that the safety of the travellers will be assured. At the moment, there is no proper pedestrian lane.
“If it is possible, why not make the walkway air-conditioned? By building it that way, maybe more people would walk across the Causeway and this may reduce congestion,” he said,
The Johor government recently announced a proposal for the construction of a 1.2km pedestrian walkway on the Malaysian side of the Causeway as part of efforts to reduce congestion at the checkpoint.
The project was one of the recommendations at the first meeting of the Special Committee on the Causeway Congestion, chaired by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad on Aug 21.
The committee also announced a slew of improvements, with an initial RM70 million allocation, which will mostly go towards improvements to Immigration clearances at the Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex.