TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s Freeway Bureau on Saturday advised southbound drivers to postpone trips until the afternoon as heavy traffic builds on the first day of the Lunar New Year holiday.
Highway traffic on Friday reached 1.15 times a typical weekday, with southbound National Highways 1 and 3 experiencing afternoon congestion. From midnight to 5 a.m. Saturday, traffic averaged 1.9 times a weekday level, according to CNA.
To ease congestion, the bureau implemented measures including flat-rate tolls, shoulder lane openings, alternative routes, and ramp controls.
Key morning congestion areas Saturday include:
- National Highway 1 southbound from Yangmei to Hsinchu and from the Changhua System to Puyan System
- National Highway 3 southbound from Tucheng to Guanxi and from Kuaiguan to Wufeng
- National Highway 5 southbound from Nangang System to Toucheng
- National Highway 4 westbound from Tanzih System to Fengshi
- National Highway 10 eastbound from Dingjin System to Yanchao System
To support those returning home or traveling during the holiday, the bureau coordinated with bus operators to add trips. On Friday, western national highway buses ran 6,656 trips, transporting 121,075 passengers, while eastern corridor buses ran 1,736 trips, transporting 30,880 passengers, according to Ettoday.
Taiwan Railway and Taiwan High Speed Rail have also added extra services. Both systems expect peak travel on Thursday, with Taiwan Railway projecting up to 901,000 passengers and THSR up to 347,000, according to CTEE.
