Tomb sweepers to cause heavy traffic jams
Print Edition
SHANGHAI residents are asked to brace themselves for heavy traffic congestions between December 12 and 22 as more than 2.4 million people are expected to visit cemeteries for the upcoming winter solstice, or dongzhi.
The city’s civil affairs authorities warned yesterday that Jiading, Baoshan, Fengxian and Qingpu districts as well as Pudong New Area, where most of the city’s 44 cemeteries are located, will be the most affected.
Dongzhi, which literally means “extreme winter,” falls on December 22 this year. It is a time when Chinese pay their respects to the departed by visiting the cemetery and sweeping tombs.
Authorities said that they expect particularly heavy traffic on Yueluo Road in Baoshan, Tanglu Road in Pudong, the Jiasong Rd N in Jiading as well as some sections and intersections of S2, S4, G50 and S5 highways which lead to major cemeteries.
An estimated 2.48 million residents will visit cemeteries during the 11-day winter solstice period to pay tribute to their ancestors, which would mark a slight increase from last year’s 2.45 million, according to the Shanghai Civil Affairs Bureau.
In an effort to ease traffic, the city will provide additional buses that will take tomb sweepers from metro stations to cemeteries.
Remote satellite monitoring systems will help ensure safety, while traffic police will be dispatched on the ground.
During peak times, toll stations will stop charging fees.
As many are expected to sweep tombs ahead of dongzhi on December 19 and 20, which fall on a Saturday and Sunday, and the day of dongzhi, a Tuesday, those dates will likely see the worst traffic, especially from 8am to 11:30am, authorities said.
An additional 190,000 vehicles will be on the roads on those three days, when authorities expect the majority of tomb sweepers to pay their respects.
December 22 will be by far the busiest day, with about 1 million expected cemetery visitors.
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