Drivers in the northernmost part of the country will spend no more than six hours traveling to the south during the Lunar New Year holidays, if no major accident occurs, Minister of Transportation and Communications Lin Ling-san (
At a year-end press conference yesterday, the ministry's National Freeway Bureau revealed traffic-control measures to be imposed on three freeways throughout the holidays.
The first day of the Lunar New Year is Jan. 22. In order to speed up traffic, all freeways will be toll-free from noon Jan. 20 to the end of Jan. 21.
The nation's three freeways will also be toll free from midnight Jan. 25 to 6am Jan. 26.
In addition, occupancy requirements will be placed on vehicles traveling south on the Sun Yat-sen Freeway, or National Highway No.1, between Neihu and Changhua on Jan. 21. From 7am to 1pm, only buses, taxis and vehicles carrying at least four people will be allowed on the freeway.
"Drivers should take advantage of the nation's second freeway to shorten the time of their journey," Lin said.
To disperse traffic, Lin suggested that drivers traveling short distances use the Sun Yat-sen Freeway.
Officials added that the nation's second freeway, or National Highway No. 3, has recently been completed.
"Ideally speaking, if you choose the second freeway and don't run into any traffic jam in central Taiwan, we can guarantee that it will take you only fours hours from Keelung to Pingtung," said Cheng Wen-lon (鄭文隆), head of the ministry's National Expressway Engineering Bureau.
On average, officials said, speeds will range from 35kph to 70kph.
Meanwhile, officials said, thanks to the cancellation of a planned strike by the Taiwan Railway Labor Union, an additional 500 trains will be available during the holidays. The Taiwan Railway Administration estimates that 495,000 commuters will be served daily throughout the holidays.
More than 723,000 seats on planes will also be available. Of the 7,338 flights during the holidays, 3,180 will connect offshore islands and Taiwan.
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