The JB canal at the end of the causeway.

[PNGMK]

Due to sea currents and geographical factors, there is currently a difference of 1 - 1.5 m in water level between the sides of the causeway. Cutting a small canal through will thus cause strong currents that normal ships might not be able to handle. They would need a lock big enough for sea-going ships (similar to what the Panama canal has). I don't see a scope for that.
The original plan of cutting a huge portion of the causeway (half or so) does not cause that problem - no bottleneck, no strong currents.

Considering it was once an open strait that's a little hard to believe...

However there's nothing to stop the MY's cutting the canal and then letting one side drain into the other until it levels out... that's pretty much quid pro quo for their claims that the massive Pulau Tekong reclamation is screwing up the tidal systems for the Johor River and causing flooding...

[JR8]

Due to sea currents and geographical factors, there is currently a difference of 1 - 1.5 m in water level between the sides of the causeway. Cutting a small canal through will thus cause strong currents that normal ships might not be able to handle.

Didn't seem to hinder Mas Selemat when he swam across, simply using his clothes in an 'NTUC bag' as a float.

[zzm9980]

I think you two misunderstand Beppi. He means the east and west side of the Woodlands/JB causeway link have different depths, not that the north shore or the south shore have different depths.

His theory about the strong current makes perfect sense. 1-1.5m of water is a *lot* of pressure. A small canal would be where all of that pressure would go, causing a torrent of water.

[PNGMK]

It'd be one heck of an engineering project. Building/excavating a 'Johore shipping channel' underneath The Causeway. Let's hope the risk assessments are thorough eh!

Nah - they just around the end of the causeway where there's no bridge (it's above the land by a good 20m). The engineering is minimal.