Focus Taiwan
Date: 2018/02/02
By: Lee Hsin-Yin

Taipei, Feb. 2 (CNA) The first section of the Suhua Highway improvement project, a road that cuts through the mountains along Taiwan’s east coast, will open Feb. 5, in time for surging travel demand around the Lunar New Year holiday, the Directorate General of Highways (DGH) said Friday.

After passing a three-stage inspection, the 9.7-kilometer stretch from Su’ao to Dong’ao in Yilan County will open at 4 p.m. Feb. 5, the DGH said.

The new road includes the Su’ao Tunnel, the Baimi Bridge, the Yongle Bridge, the Dong’ao Tunnel and the Dongyue Tunnel, after which it rejoins the original highway.

The first section will be a safer and faster route than the existing road, taking 10 minutes instead of 30, the DGH said, but added that commercial vehicles are not allowed to enter at the current stage.    [FULL  STORY]