Don’t Get Stuck in Traffic: Key Traffic Control Measures for Taipei and Kaohsiung’s New Year’s Eve Galas

▲Planning to attend a New Year’s Eve party? The photo shows the 2017 Taipei 101 fireworks. (Photo / Reporter Li Yukang)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

With just a few days left until the end of the year, the countdown parties bidding farewell to 2017 and welcoming 2018 are major highlights. Both Taipei’s “Taipei New Year’s Eve Party – The Hottest City” and Kaohsiung’s “Times Avenue New Year’s Eve Party,” expected to draw huge crowds, have announced traffic control measures. Those planning to attend should pay close attention to the key restrictions to avoid getting stuck in traffic.

▲Schematic diagram of traffic control measures for Taipei’s New Year’s Eve party. (Photo / From the Taipei City Government website)

Starting at 00:00 on December 25, 2017, there will be road closures around Municipal Government Road and Xin Ren’ai Road for stage setup and dismantling. Then, from 00:00 on Thursday, December 28, 2017, to 06:00 on Tuesday, January 2, 2018, Municipal Government Road (between Songshou and Songgao Roads) and the entire Xin Ren’ai Road will be fully closed.

On the night of the Taipei party on December 31, controls will be implemented in three phases. The first phase runs from 19:00 to 20:00, covering areas north of Section 5, Xinyi Road, west of Songren Road, south of Section 5, Zhongxiao East Road, and east of Section 1, Keelung Road. MRT Civic Boulevard Station will also have access controls—use alternative stations. The second phase, from 20:00 to 22:00, extends controls to roads near the National Father Memorial Hall. The third phase, from 22:00 to 03:00 on January 1, restricts the area south of Sections 4 and 5, Zhongxiao East Road, east of Guangfu South Road, above Zhuangjing Road, and west of Lane 236, Section 5, Zhongxiao East Road.


▲2018 Kaohsiung New Year’s Eve Party traffic control map. (Photo / From the Kaohsiung City Government website)

The 2018 Kaohsiung New Year’s Eve Party will take place on Times Avenue, where three-phase traffic controls will be enforced from 08:00 on December 31, 2017, to 02:00 on January 1, 2018. These include restrictions on vehicles entering or parking within the area east of Section 2, Chenggong Road (inclusive), south of Section 4, Linsen Road, west of Section 3, Zhongshan Road, and north of Section 4, Xinkai Xuan Road (see Figure 1). Enhanced towing and illegal parking enforcement will be in place.

Kaohsiung City Government has enhanced transport arrangements for the countdown, including increased MRT and light rail frequencies and extended operating hours. Shuttle buses along MRT lines will also extend service times. Taiwan Railways has been asked to add three extra northbound (to Tainan) services after the event. On the day, traffic controls will be in place around Times Avenue. Drivers are advised to park at seven MRT transfer parking lots (see attached Figure 2) and take the MRT (extended to 02:00) or the light rail (extended to 01:30) before walking to the venue.