A road improvement plan for the mountainous sections of the Suao-Hualien Highway was given the green light Dec. 13 by the Cabinet-level Council for Economic Planning and Development.
Under the scheme, the government will earmark NT$49.2 billion (US$1.61 billion) to reroute three sections of the road through tunnels in safer areas and reinforce another two sections of the highway by the end of 2017.
The highway was severely damaged when Typhoon Megi struck Taiwan’s east coast Oct. 21, causing nearly 40 deaths and stranding hundreds of travelers for days.
By avoiding geologically fragile sections of the old road, the initiative is expected to increase both the safety and carrying capacity of the highway, and cut travel time, the CEPD said.
“Implementation of the program is in line with the government’s policy of promoting the sustainable development of eastern Taiwan, and should also benefit the tourism industry in the area,” the council added.
The total length of the highway to be upgraded is estimated at 38.4 kilometers, including 6.8 kilometers of open road, 8.2 kilometers of bridges and 23.4 kilometers of tunnels.
According to officials of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, after construction is completed, the road will be open to small cars only for the first three to six months before large buses and trucks are allowed. The ministry expects to see the highway open to all vehicles by the end of 2018.
The improvement project could get underway at the beginning of next year at the earliest if the bidding process is wrapped up by year-end. (THN)
Write to Audrey Wang at audrey@mail.gio.gov.tw