Preventing a repeat of traffic nightmare: Qiaoxi to implement vehicle flow control during holidays starting February

▲ The Hsuehshan Tunnel gets congested every holiday, and this year’s New Year’s holiday saw Qiaoxi become a major traffic bottleneck. (Photo / Eastern News)

Tourism Center / Comprehensive Report

Yilan’s Qiaoxi, which became a “traffic disaster zone” during the four-day New Year’s holiday, saw both directions of its roads jam-packed with vehicles, causing major inconvenience to tourists and local residents. With the Lunar New Year approaching, many fear a repeat of the traffic nightmare. On the 6th, Yilan County Magistrate Lin Congxian announced that starting in February, vehicle flow control will be trialed on weekends and holidays at congested sections of Qiaoxi and scenic areas.

The four-day New Year’s holiday coincided with good weather, drawing crowds everywhere. The Hsuehshan Tunnel, the main route to Yilan, saw nearly 300,000 vehicles. Sections 4 to 6 of Taiwan Provincial Highway 9 in Qiaoxi, which connect downtown Qiaoxi with the tunnel, became a “disaster zone.” Some tourists complained that driving from the Qiaoxi Transfer Station to the tunnel, a short distance, took over an hour due to congestion, ruining their travel mood.

According to a report by Liberty Times, in response to Qiaoxi’s worst-ever traffic jam, Magistrate Lin Congxian proposed the idea of vehicle flow control on the 6th. If the traffic volume exceeds capacity, flexible controls will be imposed at key points to manage vehicle entry and exit. SMS alerts and real-time traffic information boards will also inform drivers of current conditions, helping travelers avoid peak congestion times. Further details will be jointly developed with relevant agencies.

Lin Congxian stated that the vehicle flow control is expected to be trialed starting from the first holiday in February. Additional shuttle buses and parking spaces will be provided, along with an improved public transportation system, in hopes of preventing a repeat of the traffic nightmare.