[Asia Economy Reporter Bu Aeri] On the afternoon of Chuseok, the 21st, highway congestion is gradually easing from night. However, as returning vehicles gather, cars are moving slowly in various places.
According to Korea Expressway Corporation, as of 9:10 PM on this day, the Seoul-bound lanes of the Gyeongbu Expressway are congested over a total distance of 78 km, including the sections near Biryong Junction to Daejeon, Cheongju to Cheongju Rest Area, and Cheonan to Namsa.
In the Busan direction, cars are moving slowly over a 3 km section from Jamwon to Seocho, but the rest of the sections are smooth.
The Seoul-bound lanes of the Seohaean Expressway are congested over 79 km sections including near Donggunsan to Gunsan, Dangjin Junction to Seohae Bridge, and Seopyeongtaek Junction to Paltan Junction, while the Mokpo direction is maintaining normal speed.
On the Capital Region 1st Circular Expressway, cars are moving slowly over a 9 km section from Sangil to Gwangam Tunnel in the Ilsan direction, but the Guri direction is smooth.
The Hanam-bound lanes of the Jungbu Expressway are experiencing stop-and-go traffic over a 49 km section including near Iljuk to Moga and Seoicheon to Jungbu 1 Tunnel, but the Namyi direction is smooth.
On the Namhae Expressway, there is congestion over a 2 km section near Bukchangwon to Changwon 2 Tunnel in the Busan direction, and on the Yeongdong Expressway, congestion occurs over a 19 km section from Hobeop Junction to Yongin Rest Area in the Incheon direction, but other sections are smooth.
At 10 PM on this day, the estimated travel times by passenger car from major cities nationwide to the Seoul tollgate are: Busan 5 hours, Mokpo 4 hours 50 minutes, Ulsan 4 hours 40 minutes, Gwangju 4 hours 20 minutes, Daegu 4 hours, Daejeon 3 hours, and Gangneung 2 hours 40 minutes.
The Expressway Corporation estimated the nationwide traffic volume on the last day of the holiday, the 22nd, to be 4.7 million vehicles. It predicted 340,000 vehicles moving from the metropolitan area to local areas, and 490,000 vehicles moving from local areas to the metropolitan area.
Congestion in the returning direction on the 22nd is expected to start around 7 to 8 AM, peak around 4 to 5 PM, and clear by around 10 to 11 PM.
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