Transportation officials have announced traffic controls for the Mid-Autumn Festival long weekend, which runs from Saturday to Monday. For the first time, Freeway No. 5 was toll-free today and will be again on Tuesday from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. The trial measure aims to alleviate traffic congestion seen in past years, by encouraging drivers to use the freeways during off-peak periods.On the eve of the Mid-Autumn Festival long weekend, road conditions on Freeway No. 5 are good. Those planning road trips are encouraged to head out early to avoid traffic. The Transportation Ministry has suspended tolls for part of the day today and Tuesday.The Yilan County Government estimates that traffic on Freeway No. 5 will average 75,000 vehicles per day over the long holiday. The Transportation Ministry has suspended fees between 6 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Friday and Tuesday to help ease traffic.Chang Chien-hsiangTransportation officialInitially this policy was created out of the hope of breaking up the traffic. Having these controls a day earlier or a day later will yield data that can serve as the basis for future planning.Over the three-day weekend, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., large freight trucks and gravel trucks will be prohibited from traveling on Suhua Highway so that they can’t compete with passenger cars.Chang Chien-hsiangTransportation officialIt’s possible the volume of traffic headed for or returning from Hualien will increase, so for the time being, large trucks over 21 tons will be prohibited from this route for these few days.A number of measures are being tested, as officials aim to get revelers home safely for the holidays.

свернуть