Mid-Autumn Holiday Approaches: Overview of Congestion-Prone Roads and Scenic Spots in New Taipei City

▲ During holidays, national highways often experience heavy traffic. The image is for illustration only. (Photo provided by the public, archival photo)

By reporter Tsai Wen-jun / Comprehensive report

The Mid-Autumn holiday is just around the corner. Have you planned how to spend these three days off? In response to the expected surge in traffic at various scenic spots during the break, the New Taipei City Government’s Department of Transportation recently released information on“congestion-prone urban roads and major scenic area routes, along with peak times”for public reference.

The Department of Transportation has categorized road conditions within New Taipei City into three main types:

1. Congestion-prone urban roads and scenic area routes and times
2. Overview of roadside paid parking fees
3. Overview of national highway traffic management measures during the three-day holiday

The Department of Transportation specifically pointed out that since it is a holiday on the 28th,the following roads, which normally implement lane-adjustment control measures on weekdays—Xizhi Datong Road (from XinTai 5th Road to Minquan Street), Zhonghe Jingxin Street, Yonghe Yongfu Bridge, Yonghe Road (from Zhongzheng Road to Zhulin Road), Yongyuan Road (from Deyi Road to Yongli Road), and Xindian Ankang Road (from Section 2, Lane 158 of Ankang Road to Ankeng Interchange)—will have these measures suspended.Road users are advised to take note.

▲ The New Taipei City Department of Transportation recommends taking alternative routes when heading to Yilan during high-occupancy vehicle control. The image is for illustration only. (Photo provided by the public, archival photo)

The National Freeway Bureau also announced the toll suspension and high-occupancy vehicle regulations during the Mid-Autumn holiday:

1. From September 26 to 28, the entire national freeway will suspend toll collection from 11:00 PM the day before to 6:00 AM on the day itself.
2. On the mornings of the 26th and 27th, from 7:00 AM to 12:00 PM, southbound entrance ramps at National Freeway No. 5’s Nangang System, Shiding, and Pinglin interchanges will implement high-occupancy vehicle controls; on the afternoons of the 27th and 28th, from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM, northbound entrance ramps at Su’ao, Luodong, Yilan, and Toucheng interchanges on National Freeway No. 5 will implement high-occupancy vehicle controls, with ramp metering controls also applied based on mainline traffic conditions.

For the Yilan-bound direction, which typically sees a lot of traffic during holidays, the New Taipei City Department of Transportation also advises travelers that if you're driving a small car with fewer than three passengers during times of congestion on National Freeway No. 5 or when high-occupancy vehicle controls are in place, you should consider using alternative routes such as Provincial Highway 106B, Highway 9, or Highway 2.

A detailed overview of road conditions can be found on the New Taipei City Department of Transportation’s official website (file:///C:/Users/Wen%20Chun/Downloads/%E6%96%B0%E8%81%9E%E7%A8%BF%E9%99%84%E4%BB%B6.pdf)