New Year freeway restrictions kick in from tomorrow

Minister of Transportation and Communications Lin Ling-san (林陵三) yesterday said he was confident that drivers would be able to drive from Taipei to Kaohsiung in six hours during the Lunar New Year holidays.

Due to the longer vacation this year, toll-free periods and peak-traffic restrictions will be increased, a statement said.

There will be no freeway toll between 10am and 4pm tomorrow; between 12pm on Tuesday and midnight on Wednesday; and between 10am and 4pm on both the following Friday and Saturday.

Peak-traffic restrictions will apply between 10am and 4pm tomorrow on Freeway No.1 (the Sun Yat-sen Freeway) southbound from Neihu to Changhua, and on Freeway No. 3 (the Formosa Freeway) southbound from Sindian to Homei.

The restrictions will then apply between 10am and 4pm on Friday for Freeway No.1 northbound from Kaohsiung to Neili in Tao-yuan County, as well as for Freeway No.3 northbound from Jiouru in Pingtung County to Tahsi in Tao-yuan County. Access restrictions will apply every day between 7am and 7pm.

Shoulder restrictions on certain sections of the freeways will be lifted throughout this period.

Only buses, taxis and private cars with three or more passengers will be allowed on freeways at this time. Registered handicapped drivers are exempt.