On the last day of the Lunar New Year holiday, the 30th, traffic congestion is appearing in both directions on highways nationwide.

On the last day of the Lunar New Year holiday, the traffic volume is heavy on both sides of the Gyeongbu Expressway near the Osan IC in Osan on 30th. /Courtesy of News1

According to the Korea Highway Corporation, traffic volume on highways nationwide is expected to reach 5.25 million vehicles that day. The number of vehicles leaving the metropolitan area for the provinces is forecasted to be 400,000, while 430,000 vehicles are expected to travel from the provinces to the metropolitan area.

As of 3 p.m., travel times by car from the provinces to Seoul are expected to be ▲Busan 5 hours 10 minutes ▲Ulsan 5 hours ▲Daegu 4 hours 10 minutes ▲Gangneung 4 hours ▲Yangyang 3 hours (arrival in Namyangju) ▲Daejeon 3 hours ▲Gwangju 5 hours 20 minutes ▲Mokpo 5 hours 20 minutes (arrival in western Seoul).

At the same time, travel times from Seoul to the provinces are expected to be ▲Busan 4 hours 40 minutes ▲Ulsan 4 hours 30 minutes ▲Daegu 4 hours 10 minutes ▲Gangneung 2 hours 40 minutes ▲Yangyang 2 hours (departure from Namyangju) ▲Daejeon 1 hour 50 minutes ▲Gwangju 3 hours 30 minutes ▲Mokpo 4 hours (departure from western Seoul).

Looking at major routes, as of 2:40 p.m. congestion is showing in the Gyeongbu Expressway heading towards Busan: 3 km from the vicinity of Jukjeon to the vicinity of the Sin-gal Junction, 12 km from the vicinity of the Oksan Junction to Oksan, and a 2 km section in Gyeongju.

In the direction of Seoul, vehicles are congested due to handling car-related accidents in a 4 km stretch near Yangsan, 2 km near Bukdaegu, a 5 km stretch from the Yongdong 3 Tunnel to the Yongdong 1 Tunnel, and 9 km from Biryong Junction to near Daejeon. There is a car-related accident being handled in the first lane near the Daejeon Tunnel. Additionally, congestion is observed in the following stretches: 2 km from the Sin-tanjin Rest Area to Sin-tanjin, 10 km from the Jukam Rest Area to the vicinity of the Nami Junction, 15 km near Cheongju to the Cheongju Rest Area, 4 km from Cheonan to near Cheonan, 3 km near the Anseong Junction, and 5 km from Yangjae to Banpo.

On the Seohaean Expressway towards Seoul, congestion is reported in the following areas: 6 km near the Mongtan 3 Tunnel, 15 km from Donggunsan to the Dongsuh Junction, 7 km from near Dangjin to the Seohae Bridge, 11 km from the Pyeongtaek Junction to near Hwaseong Rest Area, 3 km from Maesong Rest Area to Yongdam Tunnel, and 4 km from Iljik Junction to Geumcheon.

On the Jungbu Expressway towards Hanam, vehicles are congested in a 4 km section from Cheongju Gangseo to near Seo Cheongju, and 10 km from near Iljuk to Moga.

On the Yeongdong Expressway towards Incheon, congestion is appearing in these segments: 2 km near Jinbu 3 Tunnel to Jinbu 2 Tunnel, 6 km near Bongpyeong Tunnel to Dunnae Tunnel, 5 km near Dunnae, 4 km near Saemal, 3 km from Yeongju Rest Area to the vicinity of Yeongju Rest Area, 3 km from near Icheon to the vicinity of the Hobbe Junction, 3 km near Yangji to Yangji Tunnel, and 3 km from Dong Suwon to the vicinity of the Gwanggyo Tunnel.

Meanwhile, the corporation anticipates that congestion on the return highways will peak around 5 to 6 p.m. The congestion is expected to ease around 3 to 4 a.m. the following day (31st). Traffic on the highway heading back home is expected to gradually clear starting around 11 p.m.