Highway Congestion Intensifies... Approximately 5.41 Million Vehicles Expected to Travel Nationwide

On the 13th, the start of the Liberation Day holiday, traffic in both directions on the Gyeongbu Expressway near Osan, Gyeonggi Province, is increasing. Photo by Jinhyung Kang, Osan aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Hyung-gil] Traffic congestion on highways is intensifying as the afternoon approaches on the day before the Chuseok holiday, the 17th.

According to the Korea Expressway Corporation, as of 4 p.m. that day, vehicles on the Gyeongbu Expressway heading toward Busan are unable to maintain their speed over a total distance of 35 km, including sections from Hannam to Seocho, near Seoul Tollgate to Singal Junction, Dongtan Junction to Namsa, and near Cheonan to Okcheon.

On the Seohaean Expressway heading toward Mokpo, congestion occurred over a total of 10 km near Paltan Junction and from Seopyeongtaek to Seohaedaegyo Bridge, while heading toward Seoul, congestion was reported over a total of 34 km from Dangjin to Seohaedaegyo Bridge, Balan to Paltan Junction, Bibong to Yongdam Tunnel, and Iljik Junction to Geumcheon.

Additionally, on the Capital Region 1st Ring Expressway heading toward Guri, slow traffic continues over 30 km from Pangyo Junction to Seongnam Tollgate and from Jayuro to Songnae, and toward Ilsan, slow movement is observed over 26 km from Siheung Tollgate to Songnae and from Guri to Sangil.

On the Jungbu Naeryuk Expressway, stop-and-go traffic is occurring over 10 km sections near Bukchungju to Chungju Junction and Gamgok toward Yangyang, and over 13 km from Yeoju Junction to Gamgok toward Changwon.

On the Jungbu Expressway heading toward Hanam, vehicles are moving slowly over an 18 km section from Iljuk to Moga, and toward Nami, slow traffic is observed over 24 km from Daeso to Jincheon Tunnel. On the Yeongdong Expressway, slow driving is taking place over 8 km from Banwol Tunnel to Bugok toward Gangneung, and over 16 km from Gunja Junction to Seochang Junction and from Dongsuwon to Gwanggyo Tunnel toward Incheon.

The expected nationwide traffic volume for the day is 5.41 million vehicles, with 470,000 vehicles moving from the metropolitan area to local regions and 480,000 vehicles moving from local regions to the metropolitan area.

As of 4 p.m., the estimated travel times by passenger car from Seoul Tollgate to major cities nationwide are 5 hours to Busan, 4 hours 40 minutes to Ulsan, 4 hours to Daegu, 3 hours 40 minutes to Gwangju, 2 hours 40 minutes to Gangneung, and 2 hours 10 minutes to Daejeon.

The Expressway Corporation stated, "Since it is the day before the Chuseok holiday and return-home vehicles overlap with after-work traffic, congestion will be worse than on weekends," and forecasted, "Traffic congestion in both directions of departure and return will peak between 6 and 7 p.m. and will ease around 9 to 10 p.m."