Gradual Relief in Return Traffic Congestion... 5 Hours from Busan, 4.5 Hours from Gwangju

by Keum Boryeong

Published 01 Oct.2023 17:50(KST)

Traffic Congestion Expected to Ease Between 11 PM and Midnight

On the afternoon of the fourth day of the Chuseok holiday, September 1st, traffic returning home is congested in many areas, but some sections are gradually easing.

On the afternoon of the 1st, the fourth day of the Chuseok holiday, the upper (left) and lower lanes near Jamwon IC on the Gyeongbu Expressway in Seoul are crowded with vehicles.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

According to Korea Expressway Corporation, as of 5 p.m. on this day, the travel time by passenger car from various city toll gates to the Seoul toll gate is 4 hours 59 minutes from Busan, 4 hours 39 minutes from Ulsan, 3 hours 59 minutes from Daegu, 4 hours 30 minutes from Gwangju, 4 hours 5 minutes from Gangneung, and 2 hours 53 minutes from Daejeon.

Compared to the travel times at 1 p.m., the time from Busan, Ulsan, and Daegu to Seoul has decreased by about 1 hour and 30 minutes. However, the travel time from Daejeon to Seoul has increased by 30 minutes, indicating that congestion continues in some sections.

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

On the Gyeongbu Expressway heading toward Seoul, congestion is reported in the following sections: around Yangjae to Banpo for 5 km, Pangyo, near Suwon to Suwon for 3 km, near Cheonan to Anseong Junction for 23 km, near Oksan Junction to Cheongju Rest Area for 2 km, Cheongju Junction to near Oksan for 13 km, Biryong Junction to near Daejeon for 7 km, near Yeongdong to Yeongdong 1 Tunnel for 8 km, near Geumho Junction, Gyeongju Tunnel, and Yangsan to near Yangsan for 2 km.

In the direction toward Busan, traffic is heavy in the sections from Hannam to Seocho for 4 km, Namsa to near Namsa for 1 km, near Mokcheon to Oksan for 20 km, near Seokgye Bus Stop for 3 km, and near Yangsan Junction.

On the Seohaean Expressway heading toward Seoul, congestion occurs near Iljik Junction to Geumcheon for 3 km, near Ballan to near Hwaseong Rest Area for 7 km, near Dangjin Junction to Seohae Bridge for 19 km, near Dong Gunsan to Dong Seocheon Junction for 12 km, from Goin-dol Rest Area to near Seonunsan for 8 km, and near Mokpo Toll Gate to near Mongtan 2 Tunnel for 5 km.

In the direction toward Mokpo, traffic is congested near Paltan Junction for 1 km and from Seopyeongtaek to Seohae Bridge for 4.5 km.

On the Jungbu Expressway heading toward Hanam, slow traffic is observed near Mannam Square Rest Area for 1 km, from Jungbu 3 Tunnel to Jungbu 1 Tunnel for 8 km, near Icheon Rest Area for 1 km, from Iljuk to Moga for 16 km, near Jincheon Tunnel to near Jincheon for 4 km, and from Nami Junction to near Seo Cheongju for 9 km.

In the direction toward Nami, congestion is reported from near Hobeop Junction to near Moga for 2 km, near Jincheon to near Jincheon Tunnel for 6 km, and from Seo Cheongju to Nami Junction for 6 km.

On the Yeongdong Expressway heading toward Incheon, stop-and-go traffic is occurring in the sections from near Jinbu to Jinbu 2 Tunnel for 7 km, from Pyeongchang to Dunnae Tunnel for 10 km, from Saemal to near Wonju for 8 km, near Yeoju to near Yeoju Rest Area for 8 km, near Icheon to near Hobeop Junction for 3 km, from Deokpyeong to near Yangji Tunnel for 10 km, near Seoyongin Junction, and from Gunpo to near Banwol Tunnel for 3 km.

In the direction toward Gangneung, congestion is reported near Pyeongchang Rest Area for 1 km, near Bongpyeong Tunnel for 1 km, and near Saemal for 2 km.