2018 New Year’s Countdown Begins – Traffic Control Summary for Seven Regions

By MOOK Scenic Spots Editorial Team

To welcome 2018, countdown parties across Taiwan’s cities and counties will draw large crowds. To prevent traffic congestion, traffic police departments in major regions have announced traffic control measures. Below is a summary of traffic controls in five major cities and seven regions in central and southern Taiwan.

1. Taipei – Taipei’s Most Exciting New Year’s Eve Party
1. Stage setup in three phases (from 00:00 on December 25, 2017 to 06:00 on January 2, 2018), with the following traffic controls:
(1) Phase 1 (December 25, 00:00–22:00): The five eastbound lanes of Shifu Road (between Songshou and Songgao Roads) are closed.
(2) Phase 2 (December 25, 22:00–December 27, 24:00): The five eastbound lanes of Shifu Road (between Songshou and Songgao Roads) are closed, plus the full closure of Xinren’ai Road.
(3) Phase 3 (December 28, 00:00–January 2, 06:00): The entire section of Shifu Road (between Songshou and Songgao Roads) is closed, plus the full closure of Xinren’ai Road.
 
2. Xinyi Planning District (from 19:00 on December 31) implements three phases of traffic control
(1) Phase 1 (December 31, 19:00–20:00)
1. Controlled area: Includes the area enclosed by Songren Road, Xinyi Road, Keelung Road, Yixian Road, Songgao Road, and Zhongxiao East Road. (See Annex 1, green solid line area)
2. Traffic control: Vehicles within the controlled area are only allowed to exit, not enter.
(2) Phase 2 (December 31, 20:00–22:00)
1. Controlled area: Includes the Phase 1 area, plus Yixian Road (between Ren’ai Road and Zhongxiao East Road) and Ren’ai Road (between Yixian Road and Guangfu South Road). Keelung Road has short tunnel (southbound) and long tunnel (northbound) controls, with motorcycles allowed northbound in the long tunnel. (See Annex 1, red solid line area)
2. Traffic control: Vehicle access prohibited.
(3) Phase 3 (December 31, 22:00–January 1, 03:00) – Expanded control area
1. Controlled area: Includes the area enclosed by Lane 236, Section 5, Zhongxiao East Road; Lane 168, Songde Road; Songde Road; Xinyi Road (between Songde Road and Songren Road); Songren Road; Zhuangjing Road; Xinyi Road (between Zhuangjing Road and Keelung Road); Xinyi Road’s northbound slow lane (between Keelung Road and Guangfu South Road); Guangfu South Road (between Xinyi Road and Ren’ai Road); Guangfu South Road (between Zhongxiao East Road and Ren’ai Road); and Zhongxiao East Road. (See Annex 1, blue solid line area)
2. Traffic control: Vehicle entry and exit prohibited within the controlled area.
 
3. Parking controls (within the controlled area)
(1) Roadside car and motorcycle parking spaces prohibited from 17:00.
(2) Yellow-line no-parking zones enforced from 17:00 until 03:00 the next day.
(3) Parking lots allow only exiting from 19:00, with full access control from 20:00.
(4) No temporary parking on bus assembly routes: East side of Guangfu South Road (between Keelung Road and Wenchang Street); northbound slow lane of Ren’ai Road (between Yanji Street and Dunhua South Road); west side of Section 2, Keelung Road (between Wenchang Street and Guangfu South Road); west side of Songde Road (between Xinyi Road and Hulin Street).
 
4. City Hall Bus Station and Underground Passage Controls
(1) City Hall Bus Station: From 19:00 on December 31, buses allowed only to exit, not enter. Passengers must use alternative stops outside the controlled area. Passage controls as shown in Annex 3.
(2) Taipei 101/World Trade Center MRT Station Underground Passage: Closed from 22:00 on December 31, 2017, reopening at 03:00 on January 1, 2018. (See Annex 2 illustration)
(3) Breeze Xinyi Underground Passage: Closed from 22:00 on December 31, 2017, reopening on January 1, 2018 according to regular hours (Uni-President Department Store and Breeze Xinyi Mall open at 11:00). (See Annex 4 illustration)
 
5. Three shuttle bus lines run until 01:30 on January 1, with routes, destinations, and boarding points as follows (see Annex 5):
(1) Line 1 (to Taipei Main Station MRT): Board on the slow lane north of Ren’ai Road (Yanji Street – Dunhua South Road).
(2) Line 2 (to Gongguan MRT Station): Board on Section 2 of Keelung Road (Wenchang Street – Guangfu South Road) and Guangfu South Road (Keelung Road – Wenchang Street).
(3) Line 3 (to Muzha & Jingmei areas): Board on the west side of Songde Road (Hulin Street – Xinyi Road).
 
VI. Bicycle and YouBike Regulations
Due to the large crowds during the New Year’s Eve event, and in consideration of public safety, bicycle riding is completely prohibited within the controlled area. YouBike rental stations will also be subject to phased restrictions as follows:
(1) Starting at 5:00 PM on December 31, 13 YouBike stations around the Xinyi Planning District will temporarily suspend service (see Attachment 6).
(2) Starting at 7:00 PM on December 31, in addition to the aforementioned 13 stations, 7 more stations will be suspended: the Taipei City Disaster Response Center, Xiangshan Park, MRT Xinyi Anhe Station (Exit 4), the intersection of Keelung Road and Guangfu Road, the intersection of Ren’ai Road and Yanji Street, Sanxing Park, and MRT Xinyi Anhe Station (Exit 1), making a total of 20 suspended stations.
(3) Starting at 3:00 AM on January 1, the aforementioned 20 stations will resume normal service.
 
VII. Due to multiple road traffic controls during the New Year’s Eve event, the Taipei City Government Transportation Bureau advises revelers traveling through the Xinyi Planning District to plan alternate routes in advance. Recommended detours are as follows (see Attachment 7):
(1) East–West Routes: It is recommended to use Nanjing East & West Roads, Civic Boulevard, and Heping East & West Roads.
(2) North–South Routes: It is recommended to use Xinxing North & South Roads, Jianguo North & South Roads, Dunhua North & South Roads, and Songshan Road.
(3) Routes from Neihu, Nangang, and Songshan toward Wuxing Street.
1. Cars: Civic Boulevard → Dunhua South Road → Heping East Road toward Wuxing Street.
2. Motorcycles: Civic Boulevard → Yanji Street, Guangfu South Road to Keelung Road.
 
VIII. Revelers heading to Rainbow Riverside Park for the New Year’s celebration may use the pedestrian underpass (at the intersection of Xinhu 2nd Road and Diding Boulevard Section 1, near the Xinminquan Pumping Station) and the pedestrian overpass. Please do not cross Diding Boulevard to ensure smooth and safe traffic flow.

2. Taoyuan – Soar Through Taoyuan for an Amazing New Year’s Countdown
1. First Phase of Traffic Control
Control Period: From 8:00 AM on December 29, 2017 to 5:00 PM on January 1, 2018.
Control Location: Roadside parking spaces along Xinpuyi 6th Street (from Nanping Road to Tongde 6th Street, near the Cultural and Artistic District side).
Control Method: Vehicles are prohibited from parking in roadside parking spaces. Vehicles not removed by the deadline and posing potential disruption to the event will be compulsorily relocated to Cimin Elementary School.
 
2. Second Phase of Traffic Control
Control Period: From 8:00 AM on December 31, 2017 to 2:00 AM on January 1, 2018.
Control Location: Xinpuyi 6th Street.
Control Method: In addition to a ban on vehicle parking in roadside parking spaces, all vehicles are prohibited from entering Xinpuyi 6th Street (between Nanping Road and Tongde 6th Street). Residents may enter the controlled area upon presenting valid identification.
 
3. Third Phase of Traffic Control
Control Period: From 2:00 PM on December 31, 2017 to 2:00 AM on January 1, 2018.
Control Location: Tongde 6th Street (between Zhongzheng Road and Xinpuyi 6th Street), Yiwu 1st & 2nd Streets (between Tongde 5th Street and Tongde 6th Street), Xinpuyi 6th Street (between Tongde 5th Street and Tongde 6th Street), and Tongde 5th Street (between Zhongzheng Road and Xinpuyi 6th Street).
Control Method: Except for motorcycle parking allowed on the red and yellow lines of Tongde 5th Street (between Zhongzheng Road and Xinpuyi 6th Street), all other road sections are off-limits to vehicles except for fire trucks, ambulances, event vehicles, and residents within the controlled area who can enter upon presenting valid ID. The control zone and duration may be adjusted flexibly based on onsite crowd and traffic conditions.
 
4. Fourth Phase of Traffic Control
Control period: From 23:30 on December 31, 2017 to 02:00 on January 1, 2018.
Control locations: Zhongzheng Road in Yuanlin City (from Tongde 11th Street to Daxing West Road), Nanping Road (from Tong’an Street to Zhongzheng Road), Yiwu 1st and 2nd Streets, Xinpu 6th Street (from Tongde 5th Street to Daxing West Road section), Tongde 11th Street (from Zhongzheng Road to Xinpu 8th Street), Xinpu 8th Street, Tongde 2nd Street (from Daxing West Road to Zhongzheng Road).
Control method: Except for buses, fire trucks, ambulances, and event vehicles, all other vehicles are prohibited from entering. The control area and time will be adjusted flexibly based on on-site traffic and crowd management needs.

3. Taichung – A Shining Welcome to the Flower Expo
1. Phase one road closure: To set up a large simultaneous live broadcast screen on Shuangshi Road, road closures will first be implemented. The controlled area covers the section of Shuangshi Road from Lixing Road to Yucail North Road. Control time is from 12:00 noon on the 31st to 03:00 the next morning.
 
2. Phase two road closure: Sections including Lixing Road, Shuangshi Road, Jinan South Street, Jinxin Street, Yucail North Road, Yucail Street, Yizhong Street, Taiping Road, Radio Station Street, and Shuiyuan Road will be under control from 4:00 p.m. on the 31st to 3:00 a.m. the next day.

4. Taichung – Lihpao Land New Year’s Eve Party
1. Dedicated lane control: On Yuemei East Road (from Yuemei South Road to Yuemei North Road), dedicated lanes will be set up on both outer lanes for shuttle buses, medical, and firefighting vehicles, as well as those with permits. Control time is from 4:00 p.m. on the 31st to 3:00 a.m. the next morning.
 
2. No parking control: No roadside parking is allowed on Section 3 of Yuemei East Road (from Yuemei North Road to Anmei Road) and Yuemei Lake Road (from Houke Road to Anmei Road). Control time is from 8:00 a.m. on the 31st to 3:00 a.m. the next morning.
 
3. No entry control: Section 3 of Yuemei East Road (from Yuemei North Road to Anmei Road) and Yuemei Lake Road (from Houke Road to Anmei Road) are designated as shuttle bus-only lanes for shuttle buses, medical, firefighting vehicles, and those with permits. Control time is from 4:00 p.m. on the 31st to 3:00 a.m. the next morning.