The planned site for the new interchange will be situated on National Freeway No. 1 at kilometer 140k, 8 km north of the Miaoli Interchange (132.8k) and 10 km south of the Sanyi Interchange (150.2k). On August 24, 2009, the Executive Yuan approved the feasibility study for this project; on October 7, the Environmental Protection Administration approved an environmental impact analysis report; on December 24, the Executive Yuan approved a construction plan; on February 11, the Public Construction Commission, Executive Yuan approved the design details, and after the Miaoli County government finished the land, acquisition, TANFB began construction.
This project’s total budget was NT$1.395 billion and scheduled for completion by the end of 2011. The finished project will link the access road in the northern Tongluo area to National Freeway No. 1, providing the area with a fast and convenient transportation system.
3) Planning and Design of the Improvement Projects for the National Freeway No. 3 Xintai 5th Road
and Nangang Interchanges
The four interchanges on the 4 km stretch of road from kilometer 12k-16k on National Freeway No. 3 are the Xizhi System Interchange, Xintai 5th Road Interchange, Nangang Interchange, and Nangang System Interchange. In order to relieve traffic on these interchanges as well as the access roads, and in order to explore the potential convenience of vehicles entering and exiting the freeway from the Hengke area and Academia Road at Nangang, TANFB compiled a National Freeway No. 3 (Xizhi-Nangang section) Operation Function Comprehensive Improvement Project Feasibility Report, which was approved by the MOTC in 2008. This year, we have continued planning and designing the project.
On June 26, 2009, we convened a final review meeting to examine the final planning report, on July 2, 2009, we held a public hearing at Xizhi City Hall, and in December 2009, the revised planning report was again submitted for approval by the MOTC. On August 27, 2009, a review meeting was convened for initial design, in November 2009, the design details were reviewed, and during the same month, the environmental impact analysis report was submitted for approval by the Environmental Protection Administration.
The finished project will improve the southbound exit ramp and northbound entrance ramp at the Xintai 5th Road Interchange as well as traffic at two intersections on section 1 of Xintai 5th Road, reducing overall traffic on the Xintai 5th Road Interchange.
4) Planning and Design of the New National Freeway No. 3 Liuying Interchange
The site of the new interchange is situated in Liuying, Tainan on National Freeway No. 3 from kilometers 321k+445 to 324k+220, and the finished project will link to the western side of the Liuying Technology Park, providing a more complete traffic network.
On February 12, 2009, a meeting was convened to review design details, and additional environmental impact analysis was necessary because the site is located around the De Yuan Pi Reservoir. In January 2009, the environmental impact statement was submitted for approval by the Environmental Protection Administration, which held two panels on August 24, 2009 and November 13, 2009 to review the statement. The TANFB is currently revising the project according to their conclusions and plan to resubmit it for approval in January 2010.
5) Planning and Design of the New National Freeway No. 3 Gukeng Interchange
Residents of Gukeng, Yunlin currently must go west through County Road 149A (or County Road 158A) and get on Provincial Freeway No. 78 through the interchange around Provincial Freeway No. 3, and finally go through the Gukeng System Interchange to access National Freeway No. 3. To solve this problem the Yunlin County Government has recommended construction of an interchange at the intersection of County Road 149A (or County Road 158A) and National Freeway No. 3 to provide more direct access.
On March 3, 2009, a final type of interchange was decided upon, and on April 28, the MOTC approved the project, and TANFB had continued planning and designing the project. In November 2009, the planning report was submitted for approval by the MOTC; in December, a review meeting approved the design details; on December 9, 2009, the Environmental Protection Administration convened a panel for the first review session on the environmental impact analysis report and then requested we provide additional information and resubmit the report.
6) Planning and Design of the New National Freeway No. 1 Touwu Interchange
The site is situated at the intersection of Provincial Highway 13 and National Freeway No. 1 (kilometer 125k+800). The project originated from a report from the Directorate General of Freeways entitled “Links Between the East-West Expressway Provincial Freeways 66, 68, and 72 and National Freeways No. 1 and 3 – A Comprehensive Review and Feasibility Study,” which recommended construction of a north-oriented ramp at the Touwu Interchange (the intersection of Provincial Freeway 13 and National Freeway No. 1) which would provide access to National Freeway No. 1 from Provincial Freeway 72. This would serve residents of northern Miaoli traveling north in addition to linking to the two Provincial Freeway 72 Touwu Interchanges, the Gongguan Interchange, and the National Freeway No. 1 Miaoli Interchange, thereby providing a fast network for vehicle transfer combining the functions of regional and system interchanges.
On April 28, 2009, the MOTC approved a feasibility report submitted by the Miaoli County Government, on August 1, 2009, TANFB opened the project for public bidding, on October 23, 2009, we convened a meeting to review the planning report, on December 18, a public hearing was held at the Touwu Town Hall, and on December 23 an environmental impact analysis report was submitted for review by the Environmental Protection Administration.
7) Planning and Design of the New National Freeway No. 3 Nantou Interchange
The project will be situated on National Freeway No. 3 at kilometers 227k-228k and includes a separate split-style diamond interchange, a northern on-ramp and southern off-ramp at the south side of the Ping Shan Keng drainage area, and a north-exit/south-entrance ramp at Zuci bridge. The finished project will improve the structure of the current traffic network and promote development of the Nantou region by providing better transportation access.
On July 8, 2009, the MOTC approved the feasibility report; on September 1, project bids were made public; on October 22, the bid was awarded; on December 22, a planning report was drafted, and in January 2010 a meeting will be convened to review the report, after which it will be submitted for approval by the MOTC.
8) Feasibility studies on the National Freeway No. 3 Zhushan (Nanyun) Interchange
The current interchange is north of Zhushan Township, the number of tourists in the area is currently low because the route from the interchange directly connects to County Road 151 in the direction of Xitou and Sun Link Sea without entering the township. TANFB recommends construction of an interchange on the south side of the township to revive tourism in the area.
The project is situated on National Freeway No. 3 at kilometer 250k and includes adding a diamond interchange. On June 17, 2009, the National Freeway Deliberation Committee for Addition of New Interchanges approved of the feasibility report, and on October 30, it was submitted for approval by the MOTC. The project’s budget is NT$895 million, and planning and design will continue in 2010 following approval by the MOTC.