Taipei announces traffic controls for National Day

Taipei, Oct. 4 (CNA) Taipei will implement extensive traffic controls around Taipei 101 on Oct. 10 to make way for large crowds during a National Day fireworks and drone show, the Department of Transportation (DOT) announced on Friday.

The celebration will feature a four-minute fireworks display launched from the skyscraper along with a performance by 500 drones flying in formation above the nearby Nanshan A21 site, starting at 10 p.m.

According to the DOT, vehicle restrictions will be rolled out in phases. From 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., both inner lanes of Songshou Road between Taipei City Hall and Taipei 101 will be closed, with only the outer lanes remaining open.

Between 9 p.m. and 9:40 p.m., the section will be completely closed, while City Hall Road, Songzhi Road and Xinyi Road will be limited to outgoing traffic only.

At 9:40 p.m., the entire control zone will be sealed off, with no vehicles allowed to enter or exit until 10:25 p.m. After that time, most roads will reopened, though parts of Songshou Road will remain restricted until 11:30 p.m.

Pedestrian restrictions will also be enforced. From 9 p.m. to 10:25 p.m., sidewalks around Taipei 101 and Nanshan A21, as well as the walkway from Xinyi Road by the World Trade Center to the Grand Hyatt footbridge, will be off-limits for stopping or gathering.

Exits 4 and 5 of the Taipei 101/World Trade Center MRT station will be closed between 9:40 p.m. and 10:25 p.m., when nearby YouBike stations will also be temporarily suspended.

Public transport will be adjusted as well. A total of 34 bus routes, including the Xinyi and Chengde express lines, will skip 16 stops near City Hall, including "City Hall (Shifu)," "City Hall (Songshou)," and "City Hall (Songren)" to speed up the frequency and transportation of people from the celebration area.

Passengers are advised to board at nearby stops or take the MRT Tamsui-Xinyi and Bannan lines, the DOT said, adding that the best viewing spots will be Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall and City Hall Square, both of which are within walking distance from MRT stations.