The　examination　of　highway　travel　behaviour　during　the　COVID-19　pandemic　can　provide　valuable　insights　into　the　impacts　of　the　pandemic　and　associated　policies　on　human　mobility　patterns.　This　paper　proposes　a　comprehensive　examination,　measurement　and　characterisation　approach　in　the　perspective　of　network　and　community　structure.　To　capture　the　changes　in　travel　behaviour,　four　stages　were　defined　based　on　four　consecutive　Augusts　from　2019　to　2022,　during　which　varying　levels　of　restrictions　were　implemented.　The　findings　reveal　interesting　trends　in　travel　patterns.　In　2020,　after　the　clearance　of　pandemic　cases,　there　was　a　remarkable　increase　of　over　10%　in　highway　trips.　However,　in　2021,　with　the　emergence　of　COVID-19　variants,　there　was　a　significant　decline　of　over　30%　in　highway　trips.　By　employing　complex　network　analysis,　key　metrics　of　the　primary　network,　including　link　weight,　node　flux　and　network　connectivity,　exhibited　a　notable　decrease　during　the　pandemic.　These　changes　in　network　properties　also　reflect　the　spatial　heterogeneity　of　highway　travel　demand.　Moreover,　the　outcomes　of　community　detection　shed　light　on　the　evolution　of　the　highway　community　structure,　highlighting　the　efficacy　of　a　community-collaboration　strategy　for　highway　management　during　public　emergency　events,　as　it　fosters　strong　local　interaction　within　the　community.