ARC Raiders Traffic Tunnels Guide: Best Bluegate Locked Gate Route, Loadout, and Code Locations
Learn the fastest way to open Traffic Tunnels, clear containers efficiently, and extract with a stronger score and safer loot.
Overview
What You'll Learn
This guide explains how to run the Traffic Tunnels open-container trial in ARC Raiders using the Bluegate Locked Gate variant, including the best loadout choices, where to find the required security codes, how to path through the tunnel interior, and how to leave enough time for a safe extraction. If you want cleaner clears, better scores, and more efficient use of your loot and resources, this route is one of the most reliable ways to do it.
Why Bluegate Locked Gate Is the Best Version for Traffic Tunnels
For this trial, Bluegate Locked Gate is the strongest map state because it combines two major advantages. First, opening the gate early can create extra breathing room for the run. Second, this version tends to offer a denser spread of searchable containers inside the tunnel complex than other variants, which makes it better for score pushing and for gathering useful ARC Raiders extraction loot.
If Locked Gate is not available, other Bluegate variants can still work, but they are generally less efficient for this specific objective. The reason is simple: the Traffic Tunnels challenge is won by minimizing dead time and maximizing searchable objects. More containers means more points, more chances at useful drops, and better value from your route.
This also makes the trial useful for players who want steady progression. Even when the main goal is score, a clean run can still contribute valuable ARC Raiders progression resources, especially if you are balancing trials with normal farming sessions.
Recommended Loadout for Traffic Tunnels
The ideal setup focuses on speed, survivability, quiet movement, and utility. You are not building for extended fights. You are building to move quickly, avoid unnecessary aggro, and keep your route intact even when the raid gets messy.
Core Gear Priorities
- Looting Survivor for extra carrying capacity. More space means you can keep useful loot without slowing your route decisions.
- Green Shield for mobility. Faster movement matters more than heavier protection in this trial because time loss is the real enemy.
- A spare Green Shield so you can swap instead of waiting on a recharge.
- Suppressor to reduce unwanted ARC aggro and avoid turning small fights into time-wasting chain engagements.
- Defib if you are in a group and want insurance during rushed tunnel movement.
- Basic healing items for quick recovery without overinvesting in sustain.
- Snap Hook for vertical movement and faster repositioning between levels or awkward tunnel angles.
- Zipline as optional backup utility for difficult traversal or final extraction paths.
- Photoelectric Cloak for safer early code collection and cleaner late extraction when ARC pressure rises.
Enemy-Specific Utility
The source route also favors bringing tools for the enemies most likely to disrupt the run:
- Anvil for handling fireballs, ticks, and pops.
- Horcracker for shredders and comets.
- Deadline as insurance against Bastions that can block areas you still need to loot.
- Winter Adrenaline to maintain momentum during long stretches of movement.
This is a good example of a practical ARC Raiders survival loadout items setup. You are not trying to dominate every encounter. You are trying to preserve tempo.
Keys Worth Carrying
Bring a Blue Gate Confiscation Key and a Patrol Car Key if you have them. You may not need to spend them every run, especially if another player opens the relevant room first, but having both gives you flexibility. In a strong tunnel run, flexibility matters because one unopened room can be the difference between an average score and a great one.
From a progression standpoint, this is also where stockpiling useful ARC Raiders Items pays off. The more often you can run your preferred route without waiting on missing tools, the smoother your overall progression becomes.
Security Code Locations to Open the Gate
Opening the gate quickly is the first major objective. The route depends on players collecting printed codes from a set of specific locations. If your team coordinates well, the gate can be opened early enough to keep the whole trial on pace.
These are the key code locations:
- Raiders Refuge: On the north side attic area near the top of the building. Look for a small dresser where the code can be printed.
- Reinforced Reception: Enter through the main doors and check the back-left corner for the code printer.
- Pilgrim's Peak: On the northeast side tower. Use elevation access to reach the second floor, then check near the red lockers and table.
- Ancient Fort: Walk up the main steps, turn right, and enter the room with desks, a bed, and server equipment. The code can be printed there.
The red-circle logic for these locations is simple: grab the nearest code based on spawn, communicate what you have, and avoid doubling back unless the lobby clearly failed to cover one of the points. In public runs, this often depends on reading player movement early. If several spawns are close to Raiders Refuge, for example, someone will often handle it without prompting.
If you are playing with a coordinated group, assign one code per player immediately. If you are solo or in a loose public lobby, prioritize the nearest reliable code and stay alert for voice callouts. Efficient code collection is the difference between a smooth tunnel clear and a rushed salvage attempt.
Best Early-Game Plan After Spawn
Your opening minutes should be entirely focused on three things: identifying your spawn, deciding which code to collect, and getting the gate opened before the run falls behind schedule.
A good rule is to aim for the gate to be open by around the 32-minute mark if possible. That timing keeps the rest of the route comfortable and gives you enough room to clear the interior thoroughly without gambling the extract.
Early Priorities
- Check your spawn and immediately commit to the nearest useful code point.
- Use the Photoelectric Cloak if dangerous ARC patrols or Rocketeers threaten your approach.
- Do not get baited into unnecessary fights unless an enemy blocks the code room.
- Listen for teammate or nearby player callouts to identify which codes are already covered.
- Once the final code is confirmed, rotate straight to the tunnel objective.
This phase is also where efficient movement tools outperform raw combat power. A faster route means fewer forced engagements, fewer heals spent, and more time left for the actual scoring section.
Take a look at: our hidden tips for farming and survival
How to Clear the Traffic Tunnels Efficiently
Once inside, the goal is to search everything that counts without getting lost, overfighting, or wasting time revisiting the same rooms. The tunnel complex is easy to misread because it has side rooms, elevation changes, hidden searchables, and several easy-to-miss objects.
The safest approach is to treat the entire interior like a sweep pattern rather than a freeform loot run. Move section by section, clear every searchable in that segment, then advance. Do not rely on memory once the pace picks up. The layout is exactly the kind of place where players think they hit everything and later realize they skipped multiple suitcases, grenade cases, or upper-level containers.
What to Prioritize Inside
- Main hall containers and obvious searchable clusters
- Suitcases, which are easy to miss during fast movement
- Side rooms and vent-adjacent spaces
- Breached rooms that other players may have opened for you
- Cars, buses, and small edge containers near exits
- Upper ledges and antenna-adjacent searchables
- Med bags and double-search containers when they are directly on route
One of the biggest mistakes in this trial is focusing only on large containers. Smaller objects absolutely matter. Suitcases, grenade cases, and tucked-away searchable props can add up fast. If you skip too many of them, your final score suffers even if the run feels clean.
Route Discipline Matters More Than Speed Alone
Many players lose points by moving quickly but inconsistently. They cross the same hall twice, forget which side rooms were cleared, or leave entire upper sections unchecked. The better method is controlled speed: move fast, but always finish the current slice of the map before rotating.
That is especially important in group runs. Other players may say a section is done when it is only partially cleared. If you care about score, verify key areas yourself, especially cars, hidden cases, and side-room searchables.
Important Tunnel Details Players Commonly Miss
The Traffic Tunnels route has several small details that can quietly improve your results.
- Suitcases are easy to forget. They blend into the route and are often skipped when players are distracted.
- Grenade cases count. If you are score pushing, they are worth checking.
- Cars may already be opened by others, but still verify whether the searchable inside was actually completed.
- Breached rooms can save time if another player opened them before you arrive.
- Some upper areas are worth a quick check if they are directly on your path, but do not overcommit to low-value detours late in the run.
- Antennas and ledges can hide searchables, especially near the later parts of the route.
This is where map familiarity turns into real consistency. If you are repeatedly running this trial for score, you should build a mental checklist of commonly missed objects rather than relying on improvisation every time.
Time Management and When to Leave
A strong tunnel run is not just about searching everything. It is about finishing the route with enough time to leave safely. The final minutes can become chaotic as ARC pressure increases, especially if the late-raid state triggers more aggro on your path out.
As a general rule, you want to be wrapping up the outermost remaining containers with a few minutes left, then rotating to your final extract before the last-minute panic begins. The Photoelectric Cloak is especially valuable here because it helps prevent a clean run from turning into a disaster at the exit.
Late-Run Extraction Tips
- Save your movement tools for the final rotation if possible.
- Do not leave the tunnel too late if ARC enemies are already active near the extract lane.
- Finish nearby searchable clusters, but stop chasing tiny detours once the timer becomes tight.
- If your key room is still unopened near the end and you have time, use your own key only if the value justifies the delay.
- Keep one shield swap ready so you do not lose time recharging.
Good extraction discipline is also what protects your haul of ARC Raiders Materials and other valuable loot from turning into a failed run. A slightly lower score with a safe extract is always better than dying with a full bag.
Solo, Duo, and Trio Differences
The route works in all group sizes, but the way you execute it changes.
Solo
Solo players should focus on the nearest code, avoid drawn-out fights, and accept that some coverage may be imperfect if the lobby does not help. Utility that prevents aggro is more important than niche combat tools. Route discipline matters the most here because there is nobody else to catch missed containers.
Take a look at: this rare attachment farming guide
Duo
Duos can split code collection more safely and cover opposite sides of the tunnel interior. Communication becomes much more valuable because one player can handle breaches or enemy pressure while the other keeps the route moving.
Trio
Trios are the most comfortable format for this trial. One player can focus on problem enemies like Rocketeers, another can maintain route flow, and the third can catch hidden side-room loot or utility tasks. This is also where specialized tools and ARC Raiders Mods choices become more flexible because responsibilities are divided.
Why This Trial Is Good for Progression
Even though the main appeal is score, the Traffic Tunnels route is also practical for players building out their account. Dense searchable clusters and efficient pathing can support your broader farming plan, especially if you still need crafting components, utility stockpiles, or upgrade inputs for base progression.
That makes the route a useful supplement to targeted farming guides. If you are short on general loot and want a run that can produce both score and useful inventory value, this is one of the better options available when the right map state appears. It fits naturally into a wider ARC Raiders Workbench progression plan because repeated successful extractions matter just as much as isolated jackpot runs.
Common Mistakes That Lower Your Score
- Entering the tunnels too late because the code phase was disorganized
- Using a heavy shield and losing too much movement speed
- Fighting every ARC contact instead of preserving route tempo
- Skipping suitcases and smaller searchable objects
- Getting turned around and rechecking the same rooms
- Leaving the final extract too late and getting swarmed
- Using keys too early when another player may open the room first
If you fix only those issues, your average run quality will improve immediately. Most failed score attempts are not caused by bad aim or weak gear. They come from route inefficiency and poor time control.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bluegate Locked Gate always the best option for Traffic Tunnels?
It is generally the strongest version because it offers better container density and the possibility of opening the route early enough for a full clear.
What is the most important loadout stat for this trial?
Movement speed. A fast shield and mobility tools usually provide more value than heavier protection because time efficiency drives the score.
Should I always bring the Blue Gate Confiscation Key?
If you have one, yes. You may not need to use it every run, but having it protects your route from bad lobby coordination.
What do players miss most inside the tunnels?
Suitcases, grenade cases, small side-room searchables, and upper ledge containers are the most commonly skipped objects.
Is this route good for farming loot and resources too?
Yes. A clean run can provide solid value in general loot, useful crafting components, and other progression items while you push score.