Summer vacation around the corner? Avoid traffic-choked roads July 29-Aug. 4
Cars choke an expressway in this photo taken on Aug. 14, 2015, the first day of a two-day holiday. Severe congestion is expected on major roads during the peak summer vacation season of July 29 to Aug. 4. / Korea Times photo by Yoon Dong-jin
By Chyung Eun-ju
Do you have summer vacation plans? If so, it would be wise to avoid hitting the roads from July 29 to Aug. 4 or you will need a healthy dose of patience.
Nearly 4.83 million people are expected to use the nation’s major highways daily during the peak season, turning them into giant parking lots, according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. The figure is a 47 percent hike on the average off-peak traffic volume, the ministry said. The peak season will continue through Aug. 10.
The ministry has declared July 21-Aug. 10 a “special transportation measure period,” during which additional express buses, airplanes and ships will be deployed for vacationers.
Beaches on the east coast will be the most popular destinations, followed by the south coast, the west coast and Jeju Island.
Real-time traffic information will be provided on the websites of the National Transport Information Center (www.its.go.kr) and the Korea Expressway Corporation (www.roadplus.co.kr) and at the call center (1588-2504).