“五一”假期首日苏州市管高速迎来出行高峰，城区收费站将创下节假日单日流量新高

Core Viewpoint - The first day of the "May Day" holiday in Suzhou has seen a significant increase in traffic, with a total of 618,100 vehicles recorded on municipal highways, representing a 5% increase compared to the same period last year, and a notable 11.49% increase in Suzhou highways [1] Traffic Flow and Patterns - The G1522 Changtai Expressway south section towards Hangzhou and other key routes experienced significant traffic congestion due to cross-regional tourism, with expected delays continuing until 10 PM [3] - The peak traffic at popular toll stations, such as Xishan and Shihu, was observed between 9:00 AM and 12:00 PM, with Xishan toll station recording a flow of 22,000 vehicles by 3 PM, a year-on-year increase of 16.51% [6] - The hourly total flow at toll stations heading towards the ancient city reached 3,283 vehicles between 10:00 AM and 11:00 AM, indicating a surge in traffic towards popular tourist attractions [8] Service Area and Facilities - The Baiyanghu service area, a key traffic node, received 13,422 vehicles and served 20,133 people by 3 PM, marking an 11.7% increase from the previous year [12] - Facilities at the service area, including "Driver's Home," mother-baby rooms, and elderly-friendly services, were open 24 hours to accommodate diverse needs [12] Future Traffic Predictions - Traffic on municipal highways is expected to remain high on May 2, with peak return traffic anticipated from the afternoon of May 4 to the evening of May 5 [15]