Heavy Traffic Reported on Taiwan Highways on First Day of Dragon Boat Festival Holiday; Seven Road Sections Expected to Face Congestion in Afternoon

Central News Agency (Taipei, June 19) — As the three-day Dragon Boat Festival holiday begins, the Taiwan Area National Freeway Bureau (TANFB) reported congestion on several national highway sections this morning. Seven segments are expected to face traffic jams this afternoon, including the southbound lane of National Freeway 5 from Nangang System to Toucheng. The Bureau advises travelers heading south on National Freeway 5 to depart after 5:00 PM.

According to the TANFB, as of 11:00 AM, the total traffic volume reached 40.2 million vehicle-kilometers. The total projected traffic volume for the day is 118 million vehicle-kilometers, which is 1.3 times the daily average of 93 million, remaining within expected parameters.

Key morning congestion included segments on National Freeways 1 and 3. By 12:40 PM, real-time traffic data showed speeds dropping below 40 km/h on portions of National Freeways 1, 3, and 5. For the afternoon, the TANFB identifies seven critical sections likely to experience heavy traffic, including the southbound Nangang-Toucheng stretch of National Freeway 5.

To optimize travel time, the Bureau suggests utilizing the '1968' website and mobile app, or monitoring Police Radio Station broadcasts for real-time updates. Furthermore, the Bureau noted that three minor rear-end collisions occurred on National Freeway 1 this morning, which contributed to temporary traffic backups.