TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Freeway Bureau anticipates a surge in traffic starting on Wednesday evening as the four-day Tomb Sweeping Festival holiday begins, with congestion predicted to peak on Thursday.
The bureau said from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday, southbound traffic on National Freeway 1, from Yangmei to Toufen, and National Freeway 3 from Zhonghe to Guanxi, will be affected by commuters, homebound travelers, and holidaymakers. Travel times are estimated to be three times the usual, per CNA.
On National Freeway 5, congestion is expected from Nangang to Toucheng between 9 a.m. and midnight. As of 9:50 a.m., real-time traffic data indicated heavy traffic in this section, though speeds remained above 60 kph, with no significant congestion yet.
The bureau projects that during the four-day holiday (April 3–6), the first day will experience the heaviest national highway traffic, reaching approximately 124 million vehicle-kilometers, 1.3 times the usual volume. Southbound traffic on the first day is expected to hit 70 million vehicle-kilometers, 1.5 times the usual volume.
10 likely congested road sections on Thursday
The bureau predicts that travel times on these 10 sections could be three to five times longer than usual:
National Freeway 1 (Southbound)
- 5 a.m. – 3 p.m. Elevated Airport System Interchange – Yangmei Interchange, and Yangmei – Toufen
8 a.m. – 3 p.m. Changhua System Interchange – Puyan System Interchange
National Freeway 1 (Northbound)
- 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Yuanshan – Dahua System Interchange
National Freeway 3 (Southbound)
- 5 a.m. – 12 p.m. Zhonghe – Guanxi
- 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. Houlong – Yuanli, Shalu – Longjing, and Kuaiguan – Mingjian
National Freeway 5 (Southbound)
4 a.m. – 4 p.m. Nangang System – Toucheng
National Freeway 10 (Eastbound)
8 a.m. – 12 p.m. Dingjin System Interchange – Yanchao
Traffic Control Measures
The following traffic controls will be implemented on Thursday:
1. Ramp Closures
- 5 a.m. – 12 p.m. Southbound entrances at Pingzhen System Interchange and Puyan System Interchange on National Freeway 1
- 12 a.m. – 12 p.m. Southbound entrances at Shiding and Pinglin on National Freeway 5
2. High-Occupancy Vehicle Controls
- 6 a.m. to 12 p.m. National Freeway 1 (Southbound) - Neihu to Toufen
- 6 a.m. to 12 p.m. National Freeway 3 (Southbound): Muzha to Xiangshan
3. Toll Adjustments (April 3–6)
- 12 a.m. – 5 a.m. Toll collection will be suspended on all national highways
- The usual 20 km toll-free mileage will be canceled, and a single-rate toll system will be applied
