Traffic on Highways Mostly Smooth on Last Day of Holiday... Congestion in Some Sections

On the afternoon of the 3rd, which is both National Foundation Day and the last day of the Chuseok holiday, vehicles are moving near Suwon Singal IC on the Gyeongbu Expressway in Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do. [Image source=Yonhap News]

On the afternoon of the 3rd, the last day of the Chuseok holiday and National Foundation Day, major highways are generally experiencing smooth traffic flow in both directions.

However, some sections near the Seoul metropolitan area are congested due to the final wave of return traffic and outing travelers.

According to the Korea Expressway Corporation as of 5 PM, the estimated travel times by passenger car from regional toll gates to the Seoul toll gate are: Busan 4 hours 50 minutes, Ulsan 4 hours 10 minutes, Daegu 3 hours 30 minutes, Gangneung 3 hours, Gwangju 3 hours 50 minutes, and Daejeon 2 hours 10 minutes.

The estimated travel times from the Seoul toll gate to regional toll gates are: Busan 4 hours 30 minutes, Ulsan 4 hours 10 minutes, Daegu 3 hours 30 minutes, Gangneung 2 hours 40 minutes, Gwangju 3 hours 20 minutes, and Daejeon 1 hour 30 minutes.

While traffic flow is generally smooth, some sections are experiencing congestion and slow movement.

On the Gyeongbu Expressway heading toward Seoul, there is congestion over a 2 km section near Cheonan and a 2 km section between Sintanjin Rest Area and Sintanjin. On the Busan-bound side, vehicles are moving slowly over a 3 km section near Ipjang.

On the Seohaean Expressway heading toward Seoul, vehicles are moving slowly over a 2 km section near Iljik Junction to Geumcheon and an 8 km section near Dangjin to Seohaedaegyo Bridge. On the Mokpo-bound side, congestion is caused by increased vehicles near Geumcheon.

On the Jungbu Expressway heading toward Hanam, vehicles are moving slowly over a 2 km section between Gyeonggi Gwangju IC and Jungbu Tunnel 1, near Gyeonggi Gwangju Junction, near Jeungpyeong to Jincheon Tunnel, and over a 7 km section near Namyi Junction to Seocheongju.

On the Jungbu Naeryuk Expressway heading toward Yangpyeong, vehicles are moving slowly over a 7 km section near Gamgok to Yeoju Junction and a 2 km section near Chungju Junction.

Except for some sections, the Korea Expressway Corporation expects relatively smooth traffic flow in both directions on the highways today.

Traffic volume is expected to be 420,000 vehicles from the provinces to the metropolitan area and 340,000 vehicles from the metropolitan area to the provinces, totaling 4.29 million vehicles nationwide using the highways, which is less than a typical Tuesday.