Highway Situation on the Way Back Home: Seoul Toll Gate Experience
By Kim Bo-dam, KBS News Reporter
As I stand here at the Seoul customs booth, the sight of cars leaving the toll gate behind me paints a picture of the highway situation on the way back home. Just three hours ago, the congestion reached its peak around 7pm as commuters headed home from work. However, since then, the traffic seems to have gradually eased.
Compared to previous years’ Chuseok holidays, the road is relatively less congested, possibly due to the spread of traffic throughout the extended holiday period. By 8pm, approximately 400,000 vehicles had already departed from the metropolitan area. Let’s take a closer look at the current flow of these vehicles through CCTV footage.
First, near the Cheonan Junction of the Gyeongbu Expressway, traffic is steadily increasing towards Busan. The cars can be seen moving slowly. Similarly, in the West Pyeongtaek area on the West Coast Expressway, traffic flow towards Mokpo is also slow.
Moving on to the West Cheongju Interchange on the Jungbu Expressway, vehicular traffic is concentrated in Nami’s direction. These snapshots provide an insight into the ongoing situation on the highways.
If you are planning to leave Seoul now, it is important to consider the estimated travel times to major cities. According to the Korea Expressway Corporation, leaving the Seoul tollgate at 9pm would require approximately 5 hours and 50 minutes to reach Busan, 5 hours and 20 minutes to Gwangju, and 3 hours and 30 minutes to Daejeon.
Today, congestion on the way back home is expected to continue, with some relief anticipated during the late evening until midnight. However, traffic is likely to increase again starting from 4am tomorrow.
In other news, starting from midnight tomorrow, tolls on highways across the country, including private highways, will be exempted for four days during the Chuseok holiday. It is important to note that tolls must still be paid as usual on substitute holidays and National Foundation Day.
For real-time highway traffic information, you can make use of the highway traffic information app or visit the ‘Road Plus’ website.
Stay informed and stay safe on the roads during this holiday season.
Camera Reporter: Jeong Jun-hee / Video Editor: Lee Tae-hee
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[앵커]
This time, let’s look at the highway situation on the way back home.
Connect to the exchange car at the Seoul Toll Gate.
Reporter Kim Bo-dam! Is the road very crowded?
[기자]
Yes, you can see cars leaving the Seoul customs booth behind me.
I was here 3 hours ago, and the congestion was at its worst around 7pm, when cars were converging on their way home from work, but after that, cars seem to gradually regain their speed.
Although it is more crowded than during the week, the traffic is not as heavy as during the Chuseok holiday in previous years, perhaps because traffic is spread out during the long holiday.
By 8 pm, 400,000 vehicles had left the metropolitan area, let’s look at the current flow of these vehicles piece by piece through CCTV.
First, it is near the Cheonan Junction of the Gyeongbu Expressway.
Traffic is increasing towards Busan on the right side of the screen, and cars are moving slowly.
Next is the West Pyeongtaek area on the West Coast Expressway.
Likewise, you can see the slow flow of traffic on the right side of the screen, towards Mokpo.
Next is near the West Cheongju Interchange on the Jungbu Expressway.
Vehicular traffic is concentrated in Nami’s direction on the left side of the screen.
[앵커]
If I leave Seoul now, how long will it take to get to Busan or Gwangju?
[기자]
The Korea Expressway Corporation predicted that, leaving the Seoul tollgate at 9 pm, it would take 5 hours and 50 minutes to Busan, 5 hours and 20 minutes to Gwangju, and 3 hours and 30 minutes to Daejeon.
The congestion on the way home is expected to continue today (the 27th), with traffic expected to ease somewhat from this time until midnight, but increase again after 4am tomorrow (the 28th).
Meanwhile, from 00:00 tomorrow, tolls on highways across the country, including private highways, will be exempted for four days during the Chuseok holiday.
However, on substitute holidays and National Foundation Day, tolls must be paid as usual.
Real-time highway traffic information can be checked via the highway traffic information app or the ‘Road Plus’ website.
This is KBS News’ Kim Bo-dam at the Seoul customs booth.
Camera reporter: Jeong Jun-hee / Video editor: Lee Tae-hee
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