RP introduction

For decades, the mountainous area of eastern Taiwan has been less developed than the western part of Taiwan, mainly due to the fact that provincial highway No.9 between Suao and Hualien is constantly blocked during the typhoon and rainy seasons. In addition, restricted alignment often causes high traffic accident rate in this area, as a result Hualien residents have always wanted to have a safer, time-saving and all-weather alternative highway. In order to achieve social justice and fulfill the need of local residents, the Suao- Hualien Expressway project has been set up. The project was commenced by the Ministry of Transportation and communications in 1994 and agreed by the Executive Yuan in 1998. Then, the work of planning and Environmental Impact Assessment was started almost immediately. Currently, the project of the Suao-Hualien Expressway is included in the Challenge 2008- the Six-year National Development Plan formulated by the Executive Yuan in May 2002. The route of the Suao-Hualien Expressway begins at the end of the Taipei-Ilan Expressway. From Suao to Chungte, the Expressway passes through the eastern part of the Central Mountain Rang tunnel by tunnel, and goes nearby the existing railway. After the tunnel section, the expressway runs along the coast between Chungte and Hsinchen, and then travels the western side of the Chiashan Air Base and Hualien City, then ends at Chian. Totally, the new 4-lane Expressway is 86 km long. Besides the main route mentioned above, the project includes seven interchanges located at Tungao, Nanao, Hoping, Tarako, Hsincheng, Hualien, and Chian, each containing its own toll plaza with the electrical toll system, and three service areas located at Suao, Nanao, and Chungte. Between Suao and Chungte, the Expressway is designed of 10 tunnels totaling 40 km long and 15 bridges for 16km.
However, the Suao-Hualien Expressway has not been built so far because of administrative and financial problems of government and dispute from some antagonists. The argument for constructing the Suao-Hualien Expressway has continued for many years. Hualien residents, scholars, government officials have different ideas and opinions. As a Taiwanese, all the islanders should concern about it, even for those who are not residents in Hualien. In my opinion, we do not need the Suao-Hualien Expressway.