Vehicles made an estimated 2.5 million trips on the island’s freeway networks yesterday alone, the first day of the three-day holiday.

Close to half a million of motorists used the freeway systems from midnight to 6 a.m. as the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) suspends toll collection for people observing the Chingming Festival, also known as Tomb Sweeping Festival, to clean and maintain their ancestors’ resting places.

To ease the traffic congestion, the MOTC’s National Expressway Bureau also allows motorists to use the freeway shoulders for the Neili-Chungli section on Freeway No. 1 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on April 4-6.

Small vehicles are allowed to use the shoulders for the Tashi-Lungtan section of Freeway No. 1.

Tashi of Taoyuan County is the resting place of former President Chiang Kai-shek and Chiang Ching-kuo. President-elect Ma Ying-jeou who won the presidential race on March 22 will go to the “Chiangs’ Park” in Tashi, which was shut down by the Democratic Progressive Party administration, to pay his respects.

The Taoyuan County Government has been preparing for the swelling number of tourists to go to the park today and tomorrow.

Both the government’s Taiwan Railway Administration and Taiwan High Speed Rail Corp. have added more trains to meet the services of travelers.

The temperatures will rise today throughout Taiwan.

Except for sporadic rains in certain parts of northern Taiwan, there will be fine weather for people pursuing outdoor activities in central and southern parts of the island, according to the Central Weather Bureau.

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