North end: PH 2 in Keelung Constructed 19 January 1993 | Length 430.5 km | |
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Existed: January 19th, 1993 – present South end: Dapengwan National Scenic Area in Linbian Counties: Keelung, New Taipei, Taipei,
Taoyuan, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Taichung, Changhua, Nantou, Yunlin, Chiayi, Tainan, Kaohsiung, Pingtung Major cities Keelung, Longtan District, Taoyuan, Nantou City, Wuri District, Linbian, Pingtung, Hemei, Changhua, Guantian District | ||
Freeway No. 3 (Chinese: 國道三號), also known as Formosa Freeway, is the second North-South freeway in Taiwan. It begins in Keelung City at Jijin Interchange on the Provincial Highway No. 2 (Jijin Road) and ends in Linbian, Pingtung on the Provincial Highway No. 17.
Contents
- Map of Formosa Fwy Taiwan
- Naming
- Form
- History
- 2010 landslide
- Major cities that have exit along the route
- Intersections with other freeways and expressways
- Lanes
- Spur routes
- References
Map of Formosa Fwy, Taiwan
The total length of the highway is 430.5 km (267.5 mi), with 55 interchanges, 13 junctions, 11 toll stations, and 7 service areas en route. Aside from the 55 public interchanges, there are also some interchanges reserved for governmental usage.
Naming
Freeways in Taiwan are officially coded "Freeways" with their respective numbers. By this principle, Freeway No. 3 is coded Freeway No. 3 (國道三號) in official documents or on road signs. Besides the numeric name, on 1 November 2004 it was named the Formosa Freeway (福爾摩沙高速公路) in a naming competition; however, its old alias Second Freeway (第二高速公路 or 北二高) is more popular among the road users.
Form
This freeway is actually a bypass form. It was mostly routed through suburban and rural areas of Western Taiwan. Various expressways and east-west freeways link Freeway 3 with urban areas typically served by Freeway 1. The purpose of this freeway is to inspire the economic activities in the rural area.
History
The original plan was only intended to build a second freeway between Taipei and Hsinchu. The construction began in 1987. Tucheng IC - Sanying IC was opened in January 1993, followed by Zhonghe IC to Hsinchu SIC in August 1993. Extension from Hsinchu SIC to Xiangshan IC was finished in February 1996. In March 1996, Xizhi SIC - Muzha IC was opened. The final phrase of the north section was Muzha IC. - Zhonghe IC, which was completed in August 1997. The extension between Xizhi SIC and Jijin IC completed in August 2000.
The construction of the freeway south of Hsinchu City began in 1993. In February 2000, Xinhua JCT. - Jiuru IC. was open for the traffic. It was followed by Douliu IC - Xinhua JCT. In November 2001, Xiangshan IC. - Zhunan IC in December 2001, Zhunan IC - Houlong IC in May 2002, Caotun IC - Douliu IC in June 2002, Zhonggang SIC - Longjing IC in October 2002, and Houlong IC - Zhonggang JCT., Kuaiguan IC - Caotun IC in January 2003. The entire project was completed in January 2004 when Longjing IC - Kuaiguan IC was opened.
2010 landslide
On April 25, 2010, a landslide occurred on a segment of Highway 3 near Xizhi. A large amount of dirt buried both directions of the freeway. Four cars were buried under the debris, killing four people. Bad hillside anchoring was blamed as a possible cause, as it had not been raining at the time of the collapse, and an earthquake was not registered.
Repairs to the freeway were completed on June 19, 2010 and normal traffic flow restored.
Major cities that have exit along the route
Intersections with other freeways and expressways
Lanes
The lanes in each direction are listed below.
Spur routes
Taipei City - Freeway No. 3A