The 2024 Spring Festival (Lunar New Year) holiday will begin on February 8 (Thursday) and continue until February 14 (Wednesday), lasting a total of 7 days. An increase in southbound traffic is expected at the beginning of the Spring Festival (2/8–2/9) as travelers return to their hometowns for the holiday. The Suhua Corridor (from Su’ao to Chongde) will serve as the main route for vehicle diversion on Provincial Highway No. 9. Long-distance motorists traveling between Hualien and Su’ao are advised to take the Suhua Highway Improvement Section of Provincial Highway No. 9 southbound and avoid Provincial Highway No. 9D to save travel time.
Midway through the Spring Festival (2/10–2/12), heavy traffic can be expected on the roads to all major scenic areas. As the holiday draws to a close (2/13–2/14), the majority of traffic will be heading north as people return to work, potentially causing congestion and traffic jams on the northbound route of Provincial Highway No. 9 at the Chongde section of the Suhua Corridor. The Eastern Region Branch Office of the Highway Bureau, Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) plans to implement priority lanes for buses at the Chongde section during peak hours. Furthermore, a trial for the high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane will be conducted at the Chongde section. Motorists are advised to follow the on-site instructions.
To encourage motorists to drive on the Suhua Corridor during off-peak hours, the Eastern Region Branch Office of the Highway Bureau, MOTC is currently conducting the “Spring Festival Trip via Suhua Highway Lucky Draw” online questionnaire survey and prize draw event (survey link: https://reurl.cc/eLdkRW). The event will run from January 23 to February 15, 2024. All road users are welcome to participate.
The Spring Festival is an important opportunity for people to return home and travel. To improve traffic efficiency, the Eastern Region Branch Office of the Highway Bureau, MOTC will implement measures such as periodic vehicle restrictions, traffic flow management along the Suhua Corridor using traffic signals, coordination with local police to direct traffic, and enhanced enforcement of traffic violations. These measures aim to reduce congestion during peak traffic periods. To further encourage the use of public transportation and enhance the competitiveness of public transportation services along the Suhua Corridor, measures will be implemented during peak hours in the Su’ao area and the Chongde section. During the Spring Festival, a priority lane for buses will be established at the Chongde section, and a trial “Priority Lane Opening for High-Occupancy Vehicles” will also be conducted. During the trial, high-occupancy vehicles will be permitted to use the inner lanes designated for buses, whereas non-high-occupancy vehicles will be restricted to the outer lanes. Additionally, during specific periods, tour buses and highway (city) buses will be allowed to use the Suhua Highway shoulder (emergency lane) between the Su’ao–Dong’ao, Nan’ao–Heping, and Hechung–Heren sections. Details regarding the sections of road where buses are permitted and the specific periods of opening during the holiday are provided in the attachment. To encourage the use of public transportation during the holiday, the Highway Bureau has requested bus operators to ensure sufficient capacity. If you are travelling or returning home, please make ample use of highway buses.
In response to the heavy influx of traffic along the Suhua Corridor during the holiday period, the Eastern Region Branch Office of the Highway Bureau, MOTC will implement periodic vehicle restrictions to alleviate traffic congestion during peak hours. During the 2024 Spring Festival, the following periods have been designated for the opening of highway shoulders (emergency lanes) to buses and the prohibition of passage for trucks weighing over 21 tons on Provincial Highway No. 9 and Provincial Highway No. 9D of the Suhua Corridor (from Su’ao to Chongde):
1.February 8, 2024: 5:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (both directions).
2.February 9, 2024: 5:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (southbound).
3.February 10–12, 2024: 5:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (both directions).
4.February 13, 2024: 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (both directions).
5.February 14, 2024: 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (northbound).
The Hualien County Government will implement traffic control and diversion measures from the second day to the fourth day of the Lunar New Year (2/11–2/13) on sections of Provincial Highway No. 8 (Central Cross-Island Highway) from 167k+100 to 185k+400 (between Tianxiang and Xiulin) and on the old Provincial Highway No. 9 from the north end of Taroko Bridge to the north end of Jinwen Bridge. During the traffic control periods, all vehicles with four or more wheels (with the exception of park tour buses, regular passenger buses, vehicles for license renewal, and vehicles with permits) will be restricted to passage in the direction of the controlled traffic flow. It is recommended that the public utilize the free park tour buses for transportation. The traffic control periods are as follows:
(1) From Taroko Gorge Entrance to Tianxiang: During the control period, from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. daily, control will be conducted at 185k+400 on Provincial Highway No. 8 westbound, in front of Liwu Hotel Taroko. The principle is to allow flexible control and passage, but the opening hours may be adjusted based on the snow season conditions in the Hehuan Mountain area and the parking situations at various scenic spots along the Central Cross-Island Highway.
(2) From Tianxiang to Taroko Gorge Entrance: During the control period, from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily, the principle is to allow passage for 10 minutes at every odd hour (9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m.).
Those traveling by car, train, or the Taipei–Hualien Line bus can transfer to buses at either Hualien or Xincheng (Taroko) railway stations to reach Taroko Visitor Center, Buluowan Service Station, and Tianxiang for connecting park tour buses.
An increase in southbound traffic is expected at the beginning of the Spring Festival (2/8–2/9) as travelers return to their hometowns for the holiday. Southbound traffic is anticipated to peak on the first day of the Lunar New Year (2/10), with an estimated daily flow of approximately 13,000–18,000 vehicles. As the holiday draws to a close, from the fourth to the fifth day of the Lunar New Year (2/13–2/14), the majority of traffic will be heading north as people return to work, with an estimated peak northbound traffic of 20,000–22,000 vehicles per day.
Motorists are urged to plan their travel routes through the Suhua Corridor and avoid the aforementioned peak traffic periods. Traveling via the Suhua Highway will surely provide a smooth and enjoyable experience.
Smooth Traffic Periods on the Suhua Corridor:
Northbound: From the night before Lunar New Year’s Eve (2/8) to the first day of the Lunar New Year (2/10).
Southbound: From the fourth day (2/13) to the fifth day (2/14) of the Lunar New Year.
Contact Information:
Eastern Region Branch Office of the Highway Bureau, MOTC
Contact Person: Director Wen-Hsiung Lin
Contact Number: (03) 9962501 ext. 2101
24-Hour Road Conditions Inquiry Phone Number: 03-9962683