The Ministry of Transportation and Communications has finished working out improvement plans for the Suao-Hualien Highway linking the eastern counties of Yilan and Hualien.

The comprehensive plan that includes the construction of seven tunnels as well as other enhancements along the provincial highway’s length is expected to take eight years to complete and cost an estimated NT$40 billion (US$1.24 billion).

One stretch of the highway that has been targeted for improvement is the 77-kilometer section connecting Su-ao Township in Yilan County and Chongde in Hualien County’s Xiulin Township. The section is often closed to traffic during typhoons and periods of heavy rainfall due to frequent landslides. In addition, the section hugs the coastline and is often washed out by encroaching seawater for short periods of time.

On the dangerous stretch of road between Hualien’s Nan-ao and Heping townships that has been listed as a priority, two tunnels of 8.3 kilometers and 4.4 kilometers in length as well as one shorter tunnel will be constructed, while another will be built on the short stretch along the coast between Heping and Chongde.

The improvements will shorten the road’s distance between Suao and Chongde to 60.4 kilometers and reduce travel time by about 45 minutes.

According to the ministry, a corridor has been reserved for the construction of the Suao-Hualien Expressway if necessary in the future. Plans to build the freeway have been set aside due to the huge controversy that the proposed project has generated.

MOTC Deputy Minister Yeh Kuang-shih said, “If a consensue reached after some years, and there is a need by industry, the freeway could be built along the reserved stretch.” However, he stressed that environmental impact assessments would definitely have to be carried out before such a project could commence.

The ministry had been spurred on to finalize the Suao-Hualien Expressway improvement plan by President Ma Ying-jeou’s publicly announced commitment to commencing the project by the end of 2010 at the latest.

The proposed plan has already been sent to the Executive Yuan for approval. Chi Wen-chung, director general of the MOTC’s Department of Railways and Highways, stated that the goal remains to launch the project before the end of next year.

Several environmental groups weighed in on the issue, calling for the government not to “replace safety with speed” in developing eastern Taiwan’s transportation. They also urged it to map out a comprehensive land development plan for the region and to reconsider incorporating sea transport and air transport options in its transportation development plans.

The Taiwan Environmental Protection Union also expressed the hope that the government will consider the Hualien region’s special characteristics and work to preserve them. Otherwise, it warned, “large-scale development and large-scale construction may also bring large-scale damage and destruction.” (SB)

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