Although the year-end and New Year holidays and sunrise events have been canceled and access to some attractions has been completely restricted, it seems that the number of vehicles visiting the east coast of Gangwon has increased compared to last year, so it is expected to be crowded.
According to the Gangwon Headquarters of the Korea Expressway Corporation today (31st), the average daily highway traffic volume from this day to the 2nd of next year is expected to be 322,000 vehicles.
This is a 25.8% increase over the same period last year (256,000 units) and a 10% increase compared to the weekend of this month (293,000 units).
In particular, it is expected that 356,000 vehicles will arrive on New Year's Day, a 20% increase from last year's peak traffic volume of 295,000 vehicles.
The Highway Corporation analyzed that highway traffic is expected to increase compared to last year due to increased demand for sunrise from travelers who are tired of the prolonged Corona 19.
The maximum estimated travel time from Seoul to the east coast during the sunrise period is 4 hours from Seoul to Gangneung and 3 hours and 20 minutes from Seoul to Yangyang, which is expected to increase by about 1 hour to 1 hour and 30 minutes from last year.
The return trip is expected to take 4 hours and 20 minutes from Gangneung to Seoul and 3 hours and 30 minutes from Yangyang to Seoul.
Accordingly, the Road Corporation has set a three-day period for special traffic communication countermeasures to welcome the sunrise, and will implement countermeasures such as traffic congestion, safety management, and prompt provision of traffic information.
Relieve road congestion by operating a shoulder lane system in six sections of Yeongdong Expressway and Seoul-Yangyang Expressway, and install speed recovery guidance facilities in the Yangji Tunnel in the Yongin Interchange to Yangji Interchange on the Yeongdong Expressway, which is frequently congested, to restore the speed of cars that are unconsciously decelerating. make it
Some cities and counties on the east coast completely control access to sunrise spots, but other cities and counties do not control access, so there is also a concern about the 'balloon effect', which attracts tourists to the beaches of uncontrolled areas.
Sokcho-si and Samcheok-si are restricting access to all beaches and sunrise spots in their cities and counties from this afternoon to 9:00 a.m. on New Year's Day.
However, Gangneung, Donghae, Goseong, and Yangyang do not plan to control access to the beaches, so it is expected that the sun risers will flock to these beaches.
(Photo = Yonhap News)