Taipei: Traffic controls will be imposed starting Dec. 24 on Shifu Road in front of Taipei City Hall ahead of the city’s annual New Year’s Eve countdown party, the capital’s Department of Transportation said Thursday. Chu Chen-tso, head of the department’s Transportation Management Division, stated that five eastbound lanes on Shifu Road will be closed from Dec. 24 to accommodate the setup of the party’s concert stage.

According to Focus Taiwan, from midnight on Dec. 26, Xinren’ai Road, which connects to the City Hall square, will also be closed to traffic. Chu added that from midnight on Dec. 27 until noon on Jan. 2, both Shifu Road and Xinren’ai Road will be fully closed. Starting at 7 p.m. on New Year’s Eve, vehicles will only be allowed to exit but not to enter the area west of Songren Road, north of Xinyi Road, east of Keelung and Yixian roads, as well as south of Zhongxiao East Road.

Restrictions will be expanded from 8 p.m. to include sections of Yixian and Ren’ai roads, where all entry and exit will
be prohibited. From 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. on Jan. 1, traffic will be closed to motorists in several other areas, including Lane 236 of Section 5, Zhongxiao East Road, and Songde Road, Chu explained.

Chu reminded the public that parking lots within the restricted areas will also be closed starting at 5 p.m. on Dec. 31, while roadside parking spots for cars and scooters will be off-limits. For crowd safety, cycling will be prohibited within the controlled zone, and partygoers are strongly advised to take the MRT instead of driving.

Separately, the Taipei Public Transportation Office noted that various shuttle bus services will be available on Dec. 31 to take people to the New Year’s Eve party.