By Li Hsin-yi, interviews and reports

 

Just two days away from the nine-day Lunar New Year holiday, national freeways will see a surge in traffic. To encourage the dispersal of peak-hour traffic, tolls on national freeways will be waived from 0:00 to 7:00 from January 21 to January 29. To alleviate the annual congestion at the Hsuehshan Tunnel, those who take intercity buses or use Alternative Route Provincial Highway 9 on January 25 to 27 may have a chance to win a tablet and a NT$5,000 gift voucher. Additionally, smartphone users can make good use of the “Highway 1968” app or visit 168.thb.gov.tw/m to check the latest traffic conditions.

This year’s high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) restrictions will be in place from 9:00 to 15:00 on January 26 (the fourth day of the lunar new year) and January 27 (the fifth day), requiring at least three passengers per vehicle. During this period, HOV controls will be enforced on the northbound entry ramps (including system interchanges) of National Freeway No. 1 from the Kaohsiung end to the Neili Interchange, and National Freeway No. 3 from the Jhuliu Interchange to the Daxi Interchange. Within the HOV-controlled directions, sections, and timeframes, all system and regular interchanges will be subject to controls, except those directly connected to the Hsinchu and Changhua System Interchanges of Freeways 1 and 3. The previously closed entry ramps will remain closed. On January 26 and 27, the northbound entry ramps of the Puyan and Pingzhen System Interchanges on National Freeway No. 1 will be fully closed all day.

 

During the nine-day holiday, shoulder lanes will be opened for public use daily from 7:00 to 19:00 along three sections: Freeway 3 from Daxi to Longtan southbound (Southbound 63K+100～67K+500), Freeway 3 from Wufeng to Zhongtou northbound (Northbound 210K+550～209K+830), and Freeway 3 from Zhulin to Guanxi northbound (Northbound 89K+800～81K+400). To reduce traffic volume at the Hsuehshan Tunnel, those traveling between Yilan and other areas by intercity bus or using Alternative Route Provincial Highway 9 from January 25 to 27 will be eligible for a lottery, with a tablet and NT$5,000 gift voucher given away daily. Drivers traveling northbound via Provincial Highway 9 from Yilan between 15:00 and 21:00 over these three days can pick up lottery tickets on the right side of Provincial Highway 9, 69K in Toucheng, and submit them by 22:00 to the ticket collection point at 26K on Provincial Highway 9 in Shiding (downstream of the North 47-1 Intersection) for a chance to win. Bus passengers need to send their bus ticket stubs and contact information from these two days to Postal Box 5-24, Yonghe District, New Taipei City, by February 3 to join the lottery.

 

Before hitting the road or while traveling, you can check real-time traffic images and information on the “Provincial Highway Real-Time Traffic Information Network.” The desktop version is available at 168.thb.gov.tw, and the mobile version at 168.thb.gov.tw/m. The Ministry of Transportation has also printed free fold-out “2012 Ministry of Transportation Spring Festival Transport Traffic Network Map” leaflets, available starting now at freeway service areas, vehicle inspection stations, CPC Corporation gas stations, Formosa Petrochemical Corporation gas stations near freeways, and post offices. In addition, you can call the 1968 customer service hotline directly from your phone to inquire about real-time traffic and optimal route options. Smartphone users can download the useful “Highway 1968” app to check traffic info.

 

Recommended National Freeway Alternative Routes:

1. National Freeway No. 1 Airport System to Pingzhen System (both directions): From the Airport System Interchange of Freeway 1 – Freeway 2 – Dazhu Interchange – Provincial Highway 31 – Provincial Highway 66 – Freeway 1 Pingzhen System Interchange.

 

2. National Freeway New Hsinchu to Changhua (Nantou) (both directions): From the Hsinchu System Interchange of Freeway 3 – West Coast Interchange – Provincial Highway 61 (Provincial Highway 1) – County Highway 144 – Provincial Highway 76 – Freeway 1 Puyan System Interchange (– Provincial Highway 76 – Freeway 3 Zhongxing System Interchange).

 

3. National Freeway No. 1 Daya to Yuanlin (both directions): From the Daya Interchange of Freeway 1 – Provincial Highway 74 – Provincial Highway 74A – Provincial Highway 1 – County Highway 148 – Freeway 1 Yuanlin Interchange.

 

4. National Freeway No. 3 Guanxi to Tucheng Interchange (northbound section): From the Guanxi Interchange of Freeway 3 – County Highway 118 – Provincial Highway 3 – Provincial Highway 3B – Provincial Highway 4 – Provincial Highway 3 – Freeway 3 Tucheng Interchange.

 

5. National Freeway No. 3 Douliu to Wufeng (northbound section): From the Douliu Interchange of Freeway 3 – Provincial Highway 3 – Freeway 3 Wufeng Interchange.

 

6. National Freeway No. 3 Xindian to Freeway 5 Toucheng (both directions): From the Xindian Interchange of Freeway 3 – Zhongxing Road – Provincial Highway 9 – Freeway 5 Toucheng Interchange.

 

Spring Festival Transport Special Zone:www.thb.gov.tw

 

 

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