As the second largest state in Peninsular Malaysia which located at the south of Peninsular, Johor has a unique development history as it is one of the states in Malaya that was colonized by the British. Sultan Abu Bakar moved the capital of Johor from Telok Belanga to Johor Bahru in 1866 and later in 1895, the throne of the Johor state was succeeded by his son, Sultan Ibrahim. The Johor Causeway was built during his reign. The construction of the causeway had recorded its own unique history and its existence affected the economy, politics and society of the state of Johor in particular and Malaysia in general.

​

In 1917, it was decided that such link between Malaya and Singapore was needed. 17 million was spent on constructing the Causeway, which is located in Woodlands and spans the Straits of Johor. The cost was shared between the Federated Malay States, the Straits Settlements and the State of Johor. The granite bank, 1.056km in length and 18m in width, accommodated a double railway track, a road and a foot way. Most of the granite used was quarried at Bukit Timah and Pulau Ubin. In September 1923, the Causeway was first opened to traffic in the form of goods train.  On 28th June 1924, the Johor Causeway was inaugurated by  Sultan Ibrahim together with the British High Commissioner, Governor Sir Laurence Guillemard and also the Sultans of Federated Malay States.

​

In 18th March 2020, the causeway was shut down due to Movement Control Order (MCO) in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Only food supplies and other necessity goods were allowed to go through the Causeway. The Causeway was fully reopened again without any restrictions on 1st April 2022.