Little congestion was reported on freeways yesterday as most people apparently chose to either stay at home or return to work early from the 228 Memorial Day holiday, the National Freeway Bureau (NFB) said yesterday.
About 1.41 million vehicles hit the freeways as of 6pm yesterday.
With the exception of the northbound sections between Yangmei (楊梅) and Jhongli (中壢) on Freeway No. 1 and between Toucheng (頭城) and Pinglin (坪林) on Freeway No. 3, where speeds were between 40kph and 50kph, motorists were able to drive at 60kph or above on most freeways.
Photo: CNA
The bureau’s decision to close freeway tollbooths between 12am and 7am proved effective in easing congestion.
A total of 240,000 vehicles took advantage of the toll-free hours yesterday, 1.6 times more than the same period on regular weekends.
Kang Jyh-fu (康志福), chief of the bureau’s traffic management division, said the bureau estimated freeway traffic volume might have reached 2.1 million yesterday, a 31 percent increase on the annual average.
Bureau statistics showed that freeway traffic volume reached 2.32 million on Sunday, a 45 percent increase on the annual average.
“Either they [motorists] have decided to stay at home or head back early,” Kang said, commenting on the relatively smooth traffic.
While the Taiwan Lantern Festival in Miaoli County caused traffic congestion during the first two days of the break, Kang said the bureau suspected motorists were waiting until the festival ended at 10:30pm yesterday before heading home.
“We might have to activate the meter control system so that they will not affect traffic” he said.
In related news, 44 flights were delayed at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport yesterday morning as thick fog lowered visibility, forcing one cancelation and two landings to be redirected to Taipei (Songshan) International Airport.
As the Central Weather Bureau issued a thick fog alert for western parts of Taiwan -yesterday, -travelers scheduled to fly out -today are advised to check with their airlines for updated -information on the status of their flights.
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