Premier Simon Chang (張善政) yesterday visited the National Freeway Bureau and praised its initiative to offer travelers an online forecast of traffic conditions, saying that the measure would be an immeasurable boon for the Lunar New Year holiday.
Over the nine-day holiday there might be a critical level of traffic on highways due to good weather forecasts, Chang said, adding that he paid the bureau a visit to not only inquire on the measure, but also to deliver holiday bonuses.
In the past, the bureau only provided up-to-date traffic reports, but Chang had suggested that the bureau create forecasts of traffic conditions as far as two days in advance, the bureau said.
Photo: CNA
The premier praised the bureau’s efficiency in setting up the new system, saying that providing travelers with traffic forecasts in advance would allow them to better plan their travel itineraries.
Aside from online forecasts available on its Web site, the bureau also created a mobile app, National Freeway Bureau 1968 (高公局1968). However, it said that the app would only provide updates on traffic conditions in and around Taipei, Taichung and on the Chiang Wei-shui Memorial Freeway (Freeway No. 5).
Chang instructed the bureau to refine the app to report updated traffic conditions nationwide.
Peak traffic is forecast to manifest on Tuesday and Friday next week, bureau Director Chen Yen-po (陳彥伯) said, adding that southbound traffic will probably be most congested on Tuesday, with about 1.65 million vehicles on freeways.
The bureau estimated the same amount of vehicles traveling north on Thursday next week, Chen said, adding that the highest peak average would be about 3.1 million to 3.3 million vehicles on Wednesday next week.
Meanwhile, Chang said he instructed the National Highway Police Bureau to be on heightened alert during the Lunar New Year holiday, anticipating the need for fast response times in the event of accidents.
The Taipei Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Wanda-Zhonghe Line is 81.7 percent complete, with public opening targeted for the end of 2027, New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜) said today. Surrounding roads are to be open to the public by the end of next year, Hou said during an inspection of construction progress. The 9.5km line, featuring nine underground stations and one depot, is expected to connect Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall Station to Chukuang Station in New Taipei City’s Jhonghe District (中和). All 18 tunnels for the line are complete, while the main structures of the stations and depot are mostly finished, he
The first global hotel Keys Selection by the Michelin Guide includes four hotels in Taiwan, Michelin announced yesterday. All four received the “Michelin One Key,” indicating guests are to experience a “very special stay” at any of the locations as the establishments are “a true gem with personality. Service always goes the extra mile, and the hotel provides much more than others in its price range.” Of the four hotels, three are located in Taipei and one in Taichung. In Taipei, the One Key accolades were awarded to the Capella Taipei, Kimpton Da An Taipei and Mandarin Oriental Taipei. Capella Taipei was described by
Taipei is to implement widespread road closures around Taipei 101 on Friday to make way for large crowds during the Double Ten National Day celebration, the Taipei Department of Transportation said. A four-minute fireworks display is to be launched from the skyscraper, along with a performance by 500 drones flying in formation above the nearby Nanshan A21 site, starting at 10pm. Vehicle restrictions would occur in phases, they said. From 5pm to 9pm, inner lanes of Songshou Road between Taipei City Hall and Taipei 101 are to be closed, with only the outer lanes remaining open. Between 9pm and 9:40pm, the section is
The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Vancouver, Canada, on Saturday hosted a reception to celebrate Double Ten National Day. Conservative Canadian lawmaker Marc Dalton called Taiwan a “beacon of courage and resilience in the face of rising authoritarianism,” according to a post on the Taiwan in Vancouver Facebook page. Also in attendance were fellow conservative caucus members Tako Van Popta and Chak Au, who said that Taiwan plays an “indispensable role” in ensuring global peace, prosperity and stability due to its strategic position in the Indo-Pacific region, it said. Canadian lawmaker Michael Cooper also recorded a message wishing Taiwan a
RSS