Daejeon Chungnam Headquarters Of Korea Expressway Corporation Expects Heaviest Lunar New Year Traffic At 430,000 Vehicles On The Day

Traffic to Hometowns to Peak on the Morning of February 15, Return Traffic on the Afternoon of February 17

Average Daily Traffic Volume on Expressways in Chungnam During the Lunar New Year Special Traffic Countermeasure Period Expected at 330,000 Vehicles

More Restroom Facilities at Service Areas and Rest Areas for Drowsy Drivers to Ensure a Comfortable Journey Home

Photo courtesy of Korea Expressway Corporation

The Daejeon Chungnam Headquarters of Korea Expressway Corporation expects traffic volume to peak on February 15 in the morning for outbound trips to hometowns and on February 17 in the afternoon for return trips.

To mark the Lunar New Year, the corporation has designated the six days from February 13 to 18 as a "Special Traffic Countermeasure Period" and will implement "Lunar New Year Holiday Special Traffic Measures" to ensure safe and comfortable use of expressways for customers.

During this Lunar New Year holiday period, the average daily number of vehicles using expressways nationwide is expected to be about 5.25 million, an increase of approximately 14.1% compared to the previous year.

In the Chungnam region, the average daily traffic volume is projected to be about 331,000 vehicles, up 13.8% from a year earlier, and on Lunar New Year’s Day, February 17, traffic is expected to be heaviest at 432,000 vehicles.

For travel times between major cities, traffic is expected to peak on February 15 in the morning for outbound trips and on February 17 in the afternoon for return trips. Based on tollgate-to-tollgate travel, the maximum travel time from Seoul toward Daejeon is forecast at 3 hours 30 minutes, and from Daejeon toward Seoul at 5 hours 10 minutes.

During the Lunar New Year Holiday Special Traffic Countermeasure Period, the Daejeon Chungnam Headquarters will first implement a temporary shoulder lane exclusively for passenger cars over a 13.6 km section from Mokcheon IC to Cheonan Hodu Service Area on the Gyeongbu Expressway, and will extend the deceleration lanes on the exit ramps at Daejeon IC and Cheongju IC on the Gyeongbu Expressway to handle exiting vehicles more quickly.

In addition, the exclusive bus lane on the Gyeongbu Expressway between Yangjae and Sintanjin will operate from 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. the following day from February 14 to 18, which is four hours longer than usual, and expressway tolls will be exempted for four days from 12:00 a.m. on February 15 until midnight on February 18.

Meanwhile, at service areas and gas stations within the jurisdiction of the Daejeon Chungnam Headquarters, various events such as sharing tteokguk for the Lunar New Year and traditional folk game experiences will be held, and to strengthen customer service, the number of service personnel at service areas and gas stations will be increased by 382 compared to normal, bringing the total to 1,428.

Furthermore, to enhance user convenience, staff restrooms inside service areas will be opened to the public, and additional temporary toilets will be installed at Buyeo Baekje Service Area (both directions), Cheongyang Parking Lot (both directions), Yeongok Rest Area for Drowsy Drivers (Busan-bound), and Sintanjin Rest Area for Drowsy Drivers (Busan-bound).

Real-time traffic information on expressway conditions, optimal routes, and recommended departure times is provided through the mobile app (Expressway Traffic Information), the internet (Roadplus), and the Korea Expressway Corporation call center (1588-2504).

A representative of the Daejeon Chungnam Headquarters of Korea Expressway Corporation said, "As increased traffic volume during the Lunar New Year holiday is expected to lead to long hours of driving, drivers must pay special attention to preventing drowsy driving and inattention-related accidents," and added, "If you drive for more than two hours, please take sufficient rest at a service area or a rest area for drowsy drivers."

The representative continued, "Before departure, please check traffic information and inspect your vehicle, and in the event of adverse weather such as rain or snow, reduce your speed and maintain a following distance at least twice the usual distance on sections where there may be black ice." The representative also said, "If an accident occurs, to prevent secondary accidents, be sure to evacuate outside the vehicle and secure your safety in accordance with the 'BIT-BAGSS' guidelines: turn on the hazard lights, open the trunk, evacuate outside, and report the accident using your smartphone."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.