Freeway traffic is expected to be heavy today as most people across the country return home on the last day of the Tomb Sweeping Holiday.
The National Freeway Bureau yesterday estimated that traffic volume on all freeways could reach 2.4 million today. Motorists are advised to set out early.
Heavy traffic was observed on freeways yesterday afternoon, with motorists reduced to a speed of 10kph between the Hsinchu Interchange and Chulin (竹林) Interchange.
PHOTO: GEORGE TSORNG, TAIPEI TIMES
Traffic in the southbound lane near the Hsinying (新營) Interchange went bumper to bumper for about 1km. Vehicles also lined up at feeder roads to northbound lanes near the Ilan, Suao (蘇澳) and Luodong (羅東) Interchanges.
In related news, hundreds of passengers were stranded at Taichung Airport yesterday as thick fog reduced visibility and disrupted scheduled flights.
Taichung Airport Office closed the airport at 11:40am due to low visibility and although service was resumed at 5:25pm yesterday, some flights remained canceled. Minor scuffles broke out between airport staff and passengers, with travelers increasingly frustrated at not being able to get home for the Tomb Sweeping Day.
PHOTO: CNA
Office director Wang You-lin (王幼琳) said that weather affected domestic flights to Kinmen, Matsu, Makong and Hualien, many of which were canceled or delayed. It also disrupted international flights to Hong Kong, Ho Chi Minh City, Xiamen, Hangzhou and Fuzhou.
Wang said that some international flight departures and arrivals were transferred to Taoyuan International Airport.
In other news, rain is likely tomorrow as another frontal system approaches Taiwan, the Central Weather Bureau said.
For today, the bureau forecasts temperatures from 16°C to 23°C in the north, 18°C to 25°C in central Taiwan, 19°C to 28°C in the south and 18°C to 26°C in the east.
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