Traffic on the nation's main roads was normal on the first day of the Lunar New Year holiday, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) said yesterday.
The ministry's Taiwan Area National Freeway Bureau (國道高速公路局) said there were no unusual problems on the Sun Yat-sen Freeway (中山高速公路), the Northern Second Freeway (北二高) or the Southern Second Freeway (南二高).
"Unlike the traffic nightmare we had in the past, it seems to me that nobody will have to spend their holidays on the roads this year," said Lin Lin-san (
The bureau has initiated measures, some of which will run until Feb. 18, on the three freeways to ensure traffic flows smoothly throughout the holidays.
Occupancy requirements were placed on vehicles travelling on southbound lanes of the Sun Yat-sen Freeway between Keelung and Changhua yesterday. From 7am to 1pm, only buses, taxis and vehicles carrying at least four people were allowed on the freeway.
The occupancy requirement will be enforced again on northbound lanes of the Sun Yat-sen Freeway between Kaohsiung and Fengyuan on Feb. 14, 16 and 17.
"The occupancy requirement might cause some inconvenience but I hope that everybody can understand and cooperate," said Chi Wen-chung (祁文中), chief of the Traffic Management Section of the bureau.
Chi said many roads running east to west connected with the Sun Yat-sen Freeway and that heavy traffic was to be expected. "I encourage motorists to drive with care and patience," he said.
"Be aware," he added "that anyone caught ignoring the occupancy requirement will be ticketed by our highway traffic police and fined NT$3,000."
The ministry has also made several freeways toll-free during some periods of the holiday.
From Feb. 9 to 18, all freeways will be toll-free from midnight to 6am. On Feb. 9, 14, 16 and 17, the toll-free hours will last until 1pm.
Officials also encouraged motorists to take advantage of the Southern Second Freeway, since it will be toll-free from Feb. 13 to Feb. 19. The freeway, when completed, will connect with the Northern Second Freeway, enabling motorists to travel from Hsichih in Taipei County to Linpien in Pingtung County without taking the Sun Yat-sen Freeway. However, only the section between Touliu, Yunlin County, and Jiuru, Pingtung County, has been completed.
The bureau is also closing many freeway exits to control the flow of traffic.
On the Northern Second Freeway, from Feb. 9 to 14, the Hsinchu (新竹) junction with the Sun Yat-sen Freeway will be closed. On Feb. 13 and 14, the Tashi (大溪) exit northbound will also be closed.
On the Sun Yat-sen Freeway, on Feb. 9 and 10, the Yuanlin (員林) exit southbound will be closed. On Feb. 13 and 14, the bureau is planning to close the northbound Nantzu (楠梓), Tainan (台南), Anding (安定), Shuishang (水上) and Peitou (北斗) exits.Also See Story:
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