Focus Taiwan
Date: 01/06/2020
By: Lee Hsin-Yin

Taipei, Jan. 6 (CNA) Safer and faster road travel in eastern Taiwan became a reality on Monday following the official opening of the new and improved Suhua Highway connecting Yilan and Hualien counties.

The upgraded road bypasses the most precarious parts of the old highway, mostly through the use of tunnels, which account for more than 60 percent of the new road. It also shortens travel time between the two counties from 159 minutes to 100 minutes, said the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC).

The 38.8-kilometer project covers three sections along Taiwan's rugged east coast — from Su'ao to Dong'ao in Yilan County, from Nan'ao in Yilan to Heping in Hualien County, and from Hezhong to Daqingshui in Hualien.

The first stretch opened on Feb. 5, 2018, and the second and third road sections opened Monday, just in time to meet travel demand around the Lunar New Year period from Jan. 23-29, the MOTC said.    [FULL  STORY]