Traffic congestion intensified on highways heading toward Seoul as return trips continued on the afternoon of the 26th, the third day of the Chuseok holiday.

According to the Korea Expressway Corporation, as of 1 p.m., the estimated travel times from major cities nationwide to the Seoul Toll Gate are 7 hours and 50 minutes from Busan, 7 hours and 30 minutes from Ulsan, 6 hours and 50 minutes from Mokpo, 6 hours and 50 minutes from Daegu, 6 hours and 30 minutes from Gwangju, 5 hours from Gangneung, and 3 hours and 30 minutes from Daejeon.

Travel times increased by about 50 minutes to 1 hour and 30 minutes across all regions compared to around 9 a.m.

Congestion began early in the day along return routes as vehicles headed back to Seoul, and traffic has grown severe into the afternoon.

On the Gyeongbu Expressway toward Seoul, traffic is congested in various sections, including 3 kilometers between Geumho Junction and Chilgok Junction, 2 kilometers between Biryong Junction and Daejeon Tunnel, 5 kilometers between Sangseo Interchange and the vicinity of Sintanjin, 15 kilometers between Oksan Interchange and the vicinity of Cheongju Rest Area, and 9 kilometers between the vicinity of Dallenae and Banpo.

On the Seohaean Expressway toward Seoul, dozens of kilometers are congested, including 9 kilometers between Mokpo and the vicinity of Mongtan 1 Tunnel, 13 kilometers between Dangjin and the vicinity of Haengdangdo Rest Area, and 4 kilometers between Baran and the vicinity of Hwaseong Rest Area.

On the Jungbu Naeryuk Expressway toward Yangpyeong, vehicles are moving slowly across sections such as 6 kilometers between Chilseo and the vicinity of Namji, 5 kilometers between Seonsan Rest Area and the vicinity of Sangju Tunnel, and 14 kilometers between the vicinity of Gamgok and Yeoju Junction.

The Korea Expressway Corporation projected that congestion in the return direction will peak between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. before easing around 2 a.m. to 3 a.m. the following day.

Conversely, travel times from Seoul to each city are relatively lighter for outbound travelers, taking 5 hours and 30 minutes to Busan, 5 hours and 10 minutes to Ulsan, 4 hours and 30 minutes to Daegu, 3 hours and 40 minutes to Mokpo, 2 hours and 50 minutes to Gangneung, 3 hours and 20 minutes to Gwangju, and 1 hour and 40 minutes to Daejeon.

For highways leading from Seoul to each city, congested sections are short, including 1 kilometer near Dodong Junction on the Gyeongbu Line, 2 kilometers near Sungsan Tunnel on the Seohaean Line, and 5 kilometers near Yeoju Junction on the Jungbu Naeryuk Line.

The Expressway Corporation expects outbound traffic congestion to persist until around 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. and clear up around 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Total traffic volume nationwide for the day is projected to be around 5.9 million vehicles.

An estimated 380,000 vehicles are expected to move from the capital area to provincial regions, and 520,000 vehicles from provincial regions to the capital area.

As numerous vehicles steadily head back to the capital, congestion has also appeared on major roads within Seoul during the afternoon.

According to the Seoul Transport Operation and Information Service (TOPIS), inbound sections of Gangbyeonbuk-ro are congested from the north end of Gayang Bridge to the north end of Seogang Bridge, and from the north end of Banpo Bridge to Seongsu Bridge, while outbound sections are flowing smoothly.

On Olympic-daero as well, vehicles are struggling to build speed on inbound sections, including from the south end of Gayang Bridge to the south end of Yanghwa Bridge, and from the south end of Seongsu Bridge to the south end of Yeongdong Bridge.

(Photo: Yonhap News)