VIRUS FEARS EVAPORATE: The first long weekend since the COVID-19 disease prevention measures were relaxed led to the heavy congestion, minister Lin Chia-lung said

Taipei Times
Date: Jun 26, 2020
By: Shelley Shan / Staff reporter

Freeway drivers yesterday experienced heavy congestion on the first day of the Dragon Boat Festival long weekend, with some complaining that it took four hours to drive from New Taipei City’s Banciao District (板橋) to Yilan County.

Freeway Bureau data showed that the severest congestion occurred on the southbound lanes of Chiang Wei-shui Memorial Freeway (Freeway No. 5), where traffic had been heavy since Wednesday evening.

The average speed of traffic in the Hsuehshan Tunnel (雪山隧道) on the freeway did not exceed 40kph for 30 consecutive hours, the bureau said, adding that this had never happened before.

Most of the traffic was caused by people traveling home and those going on domestic tours, the bureau said.    [FULL  STORY]