National Freeway Faces Potential Midnight Gridlock as Holiday Travel Peaks

As Taiwan enters the second day of the extended Labor Day holiday, the National Freeway Bureau (NFB) is bracing for significant travel disruptions, particularly on the highly trafficked No. 5 Freeway (Guo 5) heading north. The bureau forecasts a surge in traffic volume, projecting it to be 1.2 times the weekday average, with northbound lanes on Guo 5 potentially experiencing gridlock from early afternoon until the stroke of midnight.

This anticipated congestion is attributed to a combination of holiday travelers heading home and general leisure trips. The NFB has identified 18 'minefield' sections across the national freeway system prone to severe delays. For the Guo 5 northbound route, the congestion is expected to be particularly acute, impacting thousands of holidaymakers attempting to return to the capital region.

To mitigate the chaos, the NFB is rolling out a series of traffic management strategies. These include temporary closures of certain freeway entrances during peak hours, high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) restrictions on specific northbound lanes of Guo 5, and the expanded use of shoulder lanes. Drivers are strongly advised to plan their journeys meticulously, either departing very early in the morning or late in the evening to avoid the worst of the expected jams. The bureau's proactive measures aim to ensure the safety and relative efficiency of travel during this busy holiday period.