Taiwan's coastal highway upgrade

Taiwan's Suao-Hualien highway is being upgraded in a project worth US$1.26 billion. The work will reduce congestion, improve safety and cut journey times on the link. Once the improvements are complete by 2016 journey times will be reduced from two hours at present to an expected 72 minutes. The work includes the construction of two new tunnels that will reduce the length of the highway to 60km compared with the present 77km. The tunnels will also boost safety as at present drivers face risks from mudslides and falling rocks at certain points along the highway. The 2530 Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) will award contracts for the project during the beginning of 2011 or end-2010.