Highway System in Taiwan
Encyclopedia
Highways in the Republic of China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...

 (Taiwan)
are classified into four types:
  1. National highways: 1 - 10 (Freeway)
  2. Provincial highways: 1 - 39, 61 - 88 (Expressway
    Limited-access road
    A limited-access road known by various terms worldwide, including limited-access highway, dual-carriageway and expressway, is a highway or arterial road for high-speed traffic which has many or most characteristics of a controlled-access highway , including limited or no access to adjacent...

    )
  3. County routes: 101 - 205
  4. Township routes

The numbering system

As a general rule, the odd numbers represent north-south highways and even numbers represent east-west. The numbers increase moving west to east and north to south. Major north-south provincial highways are indicated by a one-digit number. Special routes of a highway use the same number, followed by a heavenly stem
Heavenly Stems
The ten Celestial or Heavenly Stems are a Chinese system of ordinals that first appear during the Shang dynasty, ca. 1250 BC, as the names of the ten days of the week. They were also used in Shang-period ritual as names for dead family members, who were offered sacrifices on the corresponding day...

 character. However, for English translation, these characters are replaced by letters in the alphabetical order.

National highways


Image:ROC_National_Highway_1_Taipei_lower.jpg|The older ground level #1 Freeway in Taipei.http://public.fotki.com/apjung/roadgeeking/taiwan/freeways/2004/1/
Image:TWHW1.svg|National highway number
Image:ROC_National_Highway_1_Taipei_upper.jpg|The newer upper level #1 Freeway viaduct in Taipei.http://public.fotki.com/apjung/roadgeeking/taiwan/freeways/2004/2/
Image:ROC_National_Highway_1_Exit_17.jpg|Exit 17 to #2 Freeway.http://public.fotki.com/apjung/roadgeeking/taiwan/freeways/2004/1/

History

The first highway is the Macarthur Thruway in 1964,between Keelung City and Taipei City. The entire line is the viaduct, and the construction standard is equal to that of the Expressway.

Generally speaking, national highways are freeways. The construction of national highways began in 1971 and its design was heavily based on the American Interstate Highway System
Interstate Highway System
The Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, , is a network of limited-access roads including freeways, highways, and expressways forming part of the National Highway System of the United States of America...

. The Northern section between Keelung City and Zhongli City was completed in 1974. The construction of the first freeway (No. 1) was completed in 1978. The freeway runs from the northern harbor Keelung
Keelung
Keelung City is a major port city situated in the northeastern part of Taiwan. It borders New Taipei and forms the Taipei–Keelung metropolitan area, along with the Taipei and New Taipei. Nicknamed the Rainy Port for its frequent rain and maritime role, the city is Taiwan's second largest seaport...

 to the southern harbor Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung is a city located in southwestern Taiwan, facing the Taiwan Strait on the west. Kaohsiung, officially named Kaohsiung City, is divided into thirty-eight districts. The city is one of five special municipalities of the Republic of China...

, while there was an 8.6 km branch (No. 1A) connecting to the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (then named Chiang Kai-shek International Airport).

Construction began on the other freeways in the late 1980s. The northern section of the second north-south freeway (No. 3) between Xizhi City and Hsinchu City was completed in 1997. The No. 1A Branch was extended to link No. 3 Freeway at Yingge, Taipei, and renamed as the No. 2 Freeway. Three other short freeways (No. 4, No. 8, and No. 10) were built to link the two north-south freeways in Taichung County
Taichung County
Taichung County was a county in central Taiwan, the Republic of China, that surrounded but did not include Taichung City. The name Taichung means "central Taiwan"...

 (now part of Taichung City), Tainan County
Tainan County
Tainan County was located in southern Taiwan. The name "Tainan" means "Southern Taiwan". Formerly a county of the Republic of China , Tainan County was merged with Tainan City at the end of 2010 to form a single special municipality....

 (now part of Tainan City), and Kaohsiung County
Kaohsiung County
Kaohsiung County was a county in southern Taiwan that enclosed but did not include Kaohsiung City. On December 25, 2010, the county merged with Kaohsiung City to form a single special municipality.- Administration :-External links:*...

 (now part of Kaohsiung City), respectively. The entire No. 3 Freeway was completed in January 2004.

To ease the congestion of No. 1 Freeway in the Taipei metropolitan area, a 20 km elevated bridge was built in 1997 on top of the original freeway between Xizhi City and Wugu, Taipei, to serve as a bypass for traffic not exiting and entering the freeway within the boundaries of the City of Taipei.

The construction of a freeway connecting the Taipei metropolitan area and Yilan County began in 1991 and was completed in June 2006. It includes a 12.9 km tunnel (Hsuehshan Tunnel
Hsuehshan Tunnel
The Hsuehshan Tunnel or "Snow Mountain" tunnel, is the longest tunnel in Taiwan, located on the Taipei-Yilan Freeway . It opened on June 16, 2006.-Overview:...

), which is the fifth-longest road tunnel
Tunnel
A tunnel is an underground passageway, completely enclosed except for openings for egress, commonly at each end.A tunnel may be for foot or vehicular road traffic, for rail traffic, or for a canal. Some tunnels are aqueducts to supply water for consumption or for hydroelectric stations or are sewers...

 in the world. An extension from Yilan County to Hualien County
Hualien County
Hualien County is the largest county in Taiwan and is located on the mountainous eastern coast of Taiwan. It contains the island's largest port. It is the starting point of the Hualien-Taitung Line and the terminal point of North-Link Line of TRA...

 is planned. However, its construction is being delayed by environmental concerns.

Length, exits, and entrances

Every one tenth of a kilometer is marked on the freeway with Arabic numerals to indicate freeway mileage; that is, the number of kilometers away from the northern end or western end of the freeway. Exit numbers are based on the freeway mileage. With the notable exception of exit-only signs, which are only expressed in Chinese (but with a right arrow indicating an exit-only lane), exit notification and system route reminder signs in the ROC freeway system are almost identical to their US counterparts.
There are four types of exit notification signs. The first notification sign appears two kilometers before the exit, providing the destination name and an Exit 2 km notice. The second sign appears one kilometer before the exit, providing the destination name and a Right Lane notice. The Right Lane notice warns the exiting driver to start switching to the right lane in preparation to exit and does not necessarily indicate that the right lane is an exit-only lane. The third sign appears a few hundred meters before the exit, providing the destination name and a right tilted arrow. The fourth sign is located at the exit and says Exit with a tilted right arrow.

Exit notification signs were slightly altered in December 2005. The green exit mileage label on top of the exit notification sign has been replaced with a yellow exit mileage label accompanied with the Chinese code name of the interchange. The Chinese code name of the interchange does not necessarily reflect the destinations listed on the exit signs and may represent the general location of the freeway interchange.

Long rectangular-dash dividers usually separate normal lanes. Short rectangular-dash dividers usually indicates a lane that is ready to turn into an exit, a merging lane, or a lane reserved for vehicles that have difficulty climbing high grade regions of the freeway.

Freeway entrances may have traffic lights to control the flow of vehicles entering the freeway.

Speed limit

The speed limit for cars on Taiwan's freeways range from 70 km/h (43 mph) on Freeway No. 5
National Highway No. 5 (Taiwan)
National Highway No. 5 is a freeway, which begins in Taipei City at Nangang JCT. on National Highway No. 3 and ends in Su-ao, Yilan on Masai Road...

 (north of Toucheng, Yilan
Toucheng, Yilan
Toucheng is a township in the northern coast of Taiwan. It is administered as a part of Yilan County of the Republic of China . It contains the disputed islands of Diaoyu or Tiaoyutai.* Area: 100.89 km²* Population: 31,517 people...

) to 110 km/h (68 mph) on Freeway No. 3
National Highway No. 3 (Taiwan)
National Highway No. 3 is the second North-South freeway in Taiwan. It begins in Keelung City at Jijin Interchange on the Provincial Highway No. 2 and ends in Linbian, Pingtung on the Provincial Highway No. 17....

 (south of Tucheng, New Taipei
Tucheng City
Tucheng District is a district in the southwestern part of New Taipei in northern Republic of China .- Transportation :*National Highway No. 3*Provincial Highway No...

). The speed limit for trucks are usually 10 km/h lower. In non-traffic jam conditions, a vehicle must travel at least 60 km/h (37 mph).

Speed limits are enforced through radar activated cameras
Road-rule enforcement camera
A traffic enforcement camera is an automated ticketing machine...

 that take pictures of speed-violating cars. Because of protests from speed violators, yellow warning signs are given in advance in Chinese of approaching radar activated cameras. Despite these warnings, speed violators continue to be captured by cameras.

Following distances

As tailgating
Tailgating
Tailgating is the practice of driving on a road too close to the vehicle in front, at a distance which does not guarantee that stopping to avoid collision is possible...

 poses serious hazards of rear-ending, Article 6 of the Freeway and Expressway Traffic Control Regulation (zh:高速公路及快速公路交通管制規則) requires the following minimum following distances when the weather is fine:
Speed Minimum distance per large vehicle
(大型車)
Minimum distance per small vehicle
(小型車)
60 km/h 40 m 30 m
70 km/h 50 m 35 m
80 km/h 60 m 40 m
90 km/h 70 m 45 m
100 km/h 80 m 50 m
110 km/h 90 m 55 m

Longer following distance is required in the Hsuehshan Tunnel
Hsuehshan Tunnel
The Hsuehshan Tunnel or "Snow Mountain" tunnel, is the longest tunnel in Taiwan, located on the Taipei-Yilan Freeway . It opened on June 16, 2006.-Overview:...

.

Traveling through tunnels

In the tunnel portions of freeways, lane change is prohibited when the lane divider consists of two parallel undashed lines, used when lane change is considered unsafe should a collision cause a vehicular fire. Headlights must be turned on when traveling through tunnels; this is enforced by special cameras. Unlawful lane change or failure to turn on headlights in a tunnel is subject to an administrative fine of 3000 new Taiwan dollar
New Taiwan dollar
The New Taiwan dollar , or simply Taiwan dollar, is the official currency of the Taiwan Area of the Republic of China since 1949, when it replaced the Old Taiwan dollar...

s.

Additional restrictions apply for the Hsuehshan Tunnel
Hsuehshan Tunnel
The Hsuehshan Tunnel or "Snow Mountain" tunnel, is the longest tunnel in Taiwan, located on the Taipei-Yilan Freeway . It opened on June 16, 2006.-Overview:...

 on Freeway No. 5, which is the longest tunnel in the entire system.

Prohibited traffic

Article 19 of the Freeway and Expressway Traffic Control Regulation prohibits uses of and entries onto the freeways by:
  1. Pedestrians.
  2. Military troops marching or conducting drills.
  3. Non-motorized vehicles
  4. Motorcycles (see also Restrictions on motorcycle use on freeways#Taiwan for more information).
  5. Three-wheel motor vehicles or motorized pedicabs.
  6. Farm machineries.
  7. Motorized machineries not being motor vehicles.
  8. Towed vehicles not disabled on the freeways or expressways.

Toll station

Toll stations are located every thirty to forty kilometers on the North-South freeways, No. 1
National Highway No. 1 (Taiwan)
National Highway No. 1 is the first freeway in Taiwan. It begins in Keelung City at the intersection of Ziao 2nd Road and Jhong 4th Road and ends in Kaohsiung City at the intersection of Jhongshan 4th Road and Yugang Road, giving it a total length of 372.8 km...

, No. 3
National Highway No. 3 (Taiwan)
National Highway No. 3 is the second North-South freeway in Taiwan. It begins in Keelung City at Jijin Interchange on the Provincial Highway No. 2 and ends in Linbian, Pingtung on the Provincial Highway No. 17....

, and No. 5
National Highway No. 5 (Taiwan)
National Highway No. 5 is a freeway, which begins in Taipei City at Nangang JCT. on National Highway No. 3 and ends in Su-ao, Yilan on Masai Road...

. Most toll stations collect tolls on both direction of the traffic. The exceptions are Sijhih Toll Station on Freeway No. 1 since January 1998 and Cidu Toll Station on Freeway No. 3 since its opening on October 2000, where only the northbound traffic is subject to the regular toll.

There are no freeway exits once a toll station notification sign appears, making it necessary for the driver to be familiar with the locations of the toll stations in advance, unless an exit is very close before a toll station, such as northbound Xizhi Interchange (10 km) shortly before Sijhih Toll Station (9 km). U-turns on freeways are unlawful and dangerous. All toll stations also have weigh station
Weigh station
A weigh station is a checkpoint along a highway to inspect vehicular weights. Usually, trucks and commercial vehicles are subject to the inspection....

s where truckers must be weighed when tolls are collected.

Some people who know the final exit before a toll station will deliberately shunpike, i.e. exit the freeway before the station and re-enter the freeway after the station. However, most people find this to be an inconvenience and just pay the toll, unless they know a major traffic problem that will make staying on the freeway much slower. Certain overweight truckers without proper permits also shunpike as they will be fined at the weigh stations.

Toll booth operators only collect prepaid tickets on the left lanes of the station; cash and tickets are collected on the right lanes. "No-change lanes" for small vehicles where toll collectors would not make changes have been replaced by tickets only lanes in September 1996 to speed up traffic. Tickets are available at convenience stores, post offices, and service plazas on the tollway.

Separate toll lanes are for separate types of vehicles. Small vehicles use most lanes. Heavy trucks , buses , and combination vehicles must keep right to use designated toll lanes only.

Taishan Toll Station was the first to start tolling in July 1974. The toll rates are based on different types of vehicles. The historical rates in new Taiwan dollar
New Taiwan dollar
The New Taiwan dollar , or simply Taiwan dollar, is the official currency of the Taiwan Area of the Republic of China since 1949, when it replaced the Old Taiwan dollar...

s have been:
Date range Toll per small vehicle
(小型車)
Toll per heavy truck
(大貨車)
Toll per bus
(大客車)
Toll per combination vehicle
(聯結車)
Since freeway opening 15 20 30 30
Since July 1981 25 30 40 40
Since September 1991 40 50 50 65


A toll violation is considered a serious traffic offense, subject to an administrative fine of 3000 new Taiwan dollar
New Taiwan dollar
The New Taiwan dollar , or simply Taiwan dollar, is the official currency of the Taiwan Area of the Republic of China since 1949, when it replaced the Old Taiwan dollar...

s, and includes:
  • Purposely evading toll payment.
  • Using improper toll lanes, such as:
    • Not handing in prepaid tickets in left lanes where cash is not accepted.
    • Driving a large vehicle into a small vehicle lane, considered very dangerous.
    • Driving a small vehicle into a large vehicle lane, also considered dangerous.


When Xizhi Toll Station of National Highway No. 1 collected two-way tolls, there were protests against southbound tolls while it has been just 9.4 km from the northern terminal in Keelung. That station stopped collecting southbound tolls in January 1998, but northbound tolls have remained unchanged.

As Zhutian Toll Station is at 411.3 km from the northern terminal but the southern terminal in Linbian, Pingtung
Linbian, Pingtung
Linbian is a rural township in western Pingtung County, Taiwan. It is famous for its seafood restaurants.* Area: 15.62 km²* Population: 22,232 people -External links:*...

 is marked 430.5 km, there have been protests organized by pan-blue legislatures on Saturday, May 1, 2004 and Sunday, November 21, 2004 against tolling traffic in both directions. On January 17, 2005, the National Policy Foundation has studied that Zhutian Toll Station should drop northbound tolls, but the Freeway Bureau still collects two-way tolls there.

Since tolls are mostly manually collected, tolling has been suspended for certain major holidays as announced to reduce congestion at the toll booths. Starting February 10, 2006, the Electronic Toll Collection
Electronic toll collection
Electronic toll collection , an adaptation of military "identification friend or foe" technology, aims to eliminate the delay on toll roads by collecting tolls electronically. It is thus a technological implementation of a road pricing concept...

 (ETC) system is offered as a fast and convenient method to pay the toll. However, the system has been under controversy.

Service and Rest Areas


Image:TW-Art110.png|Service Area Ahead
Image:TW-Art111.png|Exit to Service Area
Image:TW-Art112.png|Rest Area Ahead
Image:TW-Art113.png|Exit to Rest Area

Freeway service and rest areas start appearing south of Taoyuan City on the No. 1 and No. 3 freeways. Most rest areas provide gas stations, gift shops, convenience stores, and food courts. The Cingshuei rest area located on the 172.4 km mileage marker of National Highway No. 3 is so popular that visitors can only park for 45 minutes and prohibited from barbecuing.

List of national highways

There are seven national highways as of 2011. They are administered by the National Freeway Bureau.
  • No. 1
    National Highway No. 1 (Taiwan)
    National Highway No. 1 is the first freeway in Taiwan. It begins in Keelung City at the intersection of Ziao 2nd Road and Jhong 4th Road and ends in Kaohsiung City at the intersection of Jhongshan 4th Road and Yugang Road, giving it a total length of 372.8 km...

     (Keelung City - Siaogang
    Siaogang
    Siaogang District is the southern-most district of Kaohsiung City, Republic of China in southern Taiwan. The second largest airport in Taiwan, Kaohsiung International Airport, is located here.-History:...

    , Kaohsiung
    Kaohsiung
    Kaohsiung is a city located in southwestern Taiwan, facing the Taiwan Strait on the west. Kaohsiung, officially named Kaohsiung City, is divided into thirty-eight districts. The city is one of five special municipalities of the Republic of China...

    ): 373.2 km, completed on October 31, 1978
  • No. 2
    National Highway No. 2 (Taiwan)
    National Highway No. 2 is a freeway, which begins in Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport in Dayuan, Taoyuan and ends in Yingge at the junction with National Highway No. 3.-Junction list:*National Highway No. 1 at Airport JCT. in Luzhu, Taoyuan...

     (Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport - Yingge, New Taipei): 20.4 km, completed on August 24, 1997
  • No. 3
    National Highway No. 3 (Taiwan)
    National Highway No. 3 is the second North-South freeway in Taiwan. It begins in Keelung City at Jijin Interchange on the Provincial Highway No. 2 and ends in Linbian, Pingtung on the Provincial Highway No. 17....

     (Dawulun, Keelung City - Linbian, Pingtung
    Linbian, Pingtung
    Linbian is a rural township in western Pingtung County, Taiwan. It is famous for its seafood restaurants.* Area: 15.62 km²* Population: 22,232 people -External links:*...

    ): 432.0 km, completed on January 11, 2004
    • No. 3A
      National Highway No. 3A (Taiwan)
      National Highway No. 3A is a spur of National Highway No. 3 to downtown Taipei City. It begins in Taipei City at the intersection of Xinhai Road and Fanglan Road and ends in Shenkeng, New Taipei City on the County Highway No...

       (Da-an, Taipei City - Shenkeng, Taipei): 5.6 km, completed on March 21, 1996
  • No. 4
    National Highway No. 4 (Taiwan)
    National Highway No. 4 is a freeway, which begins in Qingshui, Taichung on the Provincial Highway No. 17. and ends in Fengyuan District on the Provincial Highway No. 3.-Intersections with other freeways and expressways:...

     (Qingshui, Taichung - Fengyuan City): 18.5 km, completed in November 2001
  • No. 5
    National Highway No. 5 (Taiwan)
    National Highway No. 5 is a freeway, which begins in Taipei City at Nangang JCT. on National Highway No. 3 and ends in Su-ao, Yilan on Masai Road...

     (Nangang, Taipei City - Su-ao, Yilan
    Su-ao, Yilan
    Su-ao , located in southern Yilan County, Taiwan, is an urban township that is famous for its seafood restaurants and cold springs. It is the destination of National Highway No. 5, Su-ao-Hualian Express Way, and North-Link Line of Taiwan Railway Administration...

    ): 54.3 km, completed on January 16, 2006
  • No. 6
    National Highway No. 6 (Taiwan)
    National Highway No. 6 is a freeway between Wufeng, Taichung and Puli, Nantou, and all of the main line was already open to traffic on March 21, 2009...

     (Wufeng, Taichung - Puli, Nantou
    Puli, Nantou
    Puli is an urban township in Nantou County, Taiwan. It is the geographic center of Taiwan.In the 19th century the city was known as Posia or Polisia . The Atayal name of the settlement was Sabaha Bakalas, meaning "house of stars"....

    ): 37.6 km, completed on March 21, 2009
  • No. 8
    National Highway No. 8 (Taiwan)
    National Highway No. 8 is a freeway, which begins in downtown Tainan City and ends in Xinhua, Tainan on the Provincial Highway No. 20.-Intersections with other freeways and expressways:*National Highway No. 1 at Tainan SIC. in Xinshi, Tainan...

     (Annan
    Annan, Tainan
    Annan District is a district located in the west of Tainan City, Taiwan. It was the largest district in Tainan City before the city was enlarged in 2010.* Area: 107.20 km²* Population: 166,867 people -External links:* *...

    , Tainan City - Xinhua, Tainan): 15.5 km, completed in February 2000
  • No. 10
    National Highway No. 10 (Taiwan)
    National Highway No. 10, of the Republic of China, is a freeway, which begins in downtown Kaohsiung City at the intersection of Dajhong Road and Wunzih Road and ends in Qishan on the Provincial Highway No. 3.-Intersections with other freeways and expressways:...

     (Zuoying, Kaohsiung City - Qishan, Kaohsiung): 33.8 km completed in February 2000

Provincial highways

Provincial highways (of Taiwan Province
Taiwan Province
Taiwan Province is one of the two administrative divisions referred to as provinces and is controlled by the Republic of China . The province covers approximately 73% of the territory controlled by the Republic of China...

) are administered by Directorate General of Highways under Department of Transportation and Communications since 1999. Before the mid-1990s, the numbers of provincial highways were limited to 1 - 27. In the 1992, 12 east-west expressways and the West-Coast Expressway, indicated by a number greater than 60, were planned to ease the congestion in the freeways. Some of these expressways are still under construction.

Many of these provincial highways cross through the special municipalities (i.e. Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung is a city located in southwestern Taiwan, facing the Taiwan Strait on the west. Kaohsiung, officially named Kaohsiung City, is divided into thirty-eight districts. The city is one of five special municipalities of the Republic of China...

, New Taipei, Taichung
Taichung
-Demographics:Taichung’s population was an estimated 1,040,725 in August 2006. There are slightly more females in the city than males.24.32% of residents are children, while 16.63% are young people, 52.68% are middle-age, and 6.73% are elderly....

, Tainan
Tainan
Tainan City is a city in southern Taiwan. It is the fifth largest after New Taipei, Kaohsiung, Taichung, and Taipei. It was formerly a provincial city, and in 2010, the provincial city merged with the adjacent Tainan County to form a single special municipality. Tainan faces the Taiwan Strait in...

, Taipei
Taipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...

) which are not part of Taiwan Province
Taiwan Province
Taiwan Province is one of the two administrative divisions referred to as provinces and is controlled by the Republic of China . The province covers approximately 73% of the territory controlled by the Republic of China...

.

Provincial expressways use exit notification signs that appeared on the national freeways prior to 2006. But Provincial expressways also allow types of national freeways in 2007.

Officially, provincial highways are now known as Taiwan highways. However, many people still refer to them as provincial roads (省道 sheng-dao). The following is a list of all provincial highways as of 2 August 2006:

Other than expressways

  • No. 1 (Taipei City - Fenggang, Pingtung): This is the historical north-south highway (縱貫公路).
    • No. 1A (Taipei City - Taoyuan City
      Taoyuan City
      Taoyuan City is the county seat of Taoyuan County in Taiwan, located in the northwestern part of the island. Taoyuan city is the gateway of Taiwan: with the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport in vicinity, and is a 30-minute ride to the capital, Taipei....

      )
    • No. 1B (Daya, Taichung
      Daya, Taichung
      - Native products :*Job's Tears*Wheat:the only place in Taiwan to grow wheat.* Area: 32.41 km²* Population: 84,297 people...

       - Wangtian, Taichung)
    • No. 1C
    • No. 1D
    • No. 1E (Kaohsiung - Houzhuang)
    • No. 1F (Zhunan - Luzhunan)
  • No. 2 (Guandu, Taipei - Su-ao, Yilan
    Su-ao, Yilan
    Su-ao , located in southern Yilan County, Taiwan, is an urban township that is famous for its seafood restaurants and cold springs. It is the destination of National Highway No. 5, Su-ao-Hualian Express Way, and North-Link Line of Taiwan Railway Administration...

    ) (North Coast Highway)
    • No. 2A (Jinshan, New Taipei - Taipei City)
    • No. 2B (Taipei City - Tamsui, New Taipei)
    • No. 2C (Nuannuan, Keelung
      Keelung
      Keelung City is a major port city situated in the northeastern part of Taiwan. It borders New Taipei and forms the Taipei–Keelung metropolitan area, along with the Taipei and New Taipei. Nicknamed the Rainy Port for its frequent rain and maritime role, the city is Taiwan's second largest seaport...

       - Daxi, Yilan)
    • No. 2D (Badu, Keelung - Rueibin, New Taipei)
    • No. 2E
    • No. 2F (Dawuluan, Keelung - Keelung Harbor): An extension of No. 3 Freeway.
    • No. 2G
  • No. 3 (Taipei City - Pingtung City
    Pingtung City
    Pingtung City is the capital of Pingtung County, Taiwan.-Geography:Pingtung is located in Pingtung County, the southernmost county in Taiwan. It is located east of Kaohsiung and Fengshan, and centered between the western coast and the eastern mountain range. The climate is humid and extremely hot...

    )
    • No. 3A (Caotun, Nantou
      Caotun, Nantou
      Caotun is an urban township in the northwest of Nantou County, neighboring Changhua County and Taichung City.-External links:*...

       - Nantou City
      Nantou City
      Nantou City is located in the northwest of Nantou County, Taiwan, Republic of China. It lies between the Bagua Mountains and the Maoluo River and is the seat of Nantou County. Freeway No. 3 serves Nantou City...

      )
    • No. 3B
    • No. 3C
  • No. 4 (Dayuan, Taoyuan
    Dayuan, Taoyuan
    Dayuan is a rural, coastal township in northwestern Taoyuan County, Taiwan . It is the site of Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, the main international airport serving northern Taiwan.-Overview:* Area: 87.3925 km²...

     - Shimen Reservoir)
  • No. 5 (Taipei City - Keelung City)
    • No. 5A (Zhangshuwan, New Taipei - Liudu, Keelung)
    • No. 5B
  • No. 6 (Longgang, Miaoli - Wenshui, Miaoli)
  • No. 7 (Daxi, Taoyuan - Zhuangwei, Yilan): (Northern Cross-Island Highway, 北部橫貫公路)
    • No. 7A (Qilan - Lishan)
    • No. 7B
    • No. 7C
  • No. 8 (Dongshi, Taichung - Taroko, Hualien) (Central Cross-Island Highway
    Central Cross-Island Highway
    The Central Cross-Island Highway or Provincial Highway No.8 is one of three highway systems that connect the west coast with the east of Taiwan.-Construction:The construction of the Central Cross-Island Highway began on July 7, 1956...

    , 中部橫貫公路): This highway was severely damaged between Guguan and Deji by Chi-Chi earthquake in 1999 and is unlikely to be restored in the near future.
    • No. 8A
  • No. 9 (Taipei City - Fenggang, Pingtung): The highway runs through the eastern part of Taiwan
    Taiwan
    Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...

    . It is the longest highway in Taiwan.
    • No. 9A (Xindian District - Wulai, New Taipei)
    • No. 9B
    • No. 9C
  • No. 10 (Taichung Harbor - Fengyuan District)
    • No. 10B
  • No. 11 (Hualien City
    Hualien City
    Hualien City is the capital of Hualien County, Taiwan. It is located on the East coast of Taiwan, by the Pacific Ocean, and has a population of 110,000 inhabitants.- History :...

     - Taitung City
    Taitung City
    Taitung City is the county seat of Taitung County, Taiwan. It lies on the southeast coast of Taiwan facing the Pacific Ocean.The city is served by Taitung Airport. Taitung is a gateway to Green Island and Orchid Island, both of which are very popular among Taiwanese tourists.-History:Taitung...

    )
    • No. 11A
    • No. 11B
    • No. 11C
  • No. 12 (Taichung Harbor - Taichung City)
  • No. 13 (Xiangshan, Hsinchu - Fengyuan District)
    • No. 13A
  • No. 14 (Changhua City
    Changhua City
    Changhua City is the county seat of Changhua County in Taiwan. For many centuries the site was home to a settlement of Babuza people, a coastal tribe of Taiwanese aborigines. The name of the city is derived from the aboriginal word Poasoa .Changhua is best known for its landmark statue of the Buddha...

     - Lushan, Nantou)
    • No. 14A (Wushe, Nantou - Dayuling, Hualien)
    • No. 14B
    • No. 14C
    • No. 14D
  • No. 15 (Guandu, Taipei - Hsinchu City)
  • No. 15A
  • No. 16 (Mingjian, Nantou
    Mingjian, Nantou
    Mingjian is a rural township located in the west central part of Nantou County in Taiwan. Its name originates from a Japanese transliteration of the Taiwanese word, Lama , meaning a very wet place.- History :...

     - Shuili, Nantou
    Shuili, Nantou
    Shuili is a rural township in Nantou County, Taiwan. It has a population total of 20,517 and an area of 106.8424 square kilometres.-External links:*...

    )
  • No. 17 (Jianan, Taichung - Shuidiliao, Pingtung): (West Coast Highway)
    • No. 17A
  • No. 18 (Chiayi City - Tatajia, Chiayi)
  • No. 19 (Changhua City
    Changhua City
    Changhua City is the county seat of Changhua County in Taiwan. For many centuries the site was home to a settlement of Babuza people, a coastal tribe of Taiwanese aborigines. The name of the city is derived from the aboriginal word Poasoa .Changhua is best known for its landmark statue of the Buddha...

     - Tainan City)
    • No. 19A
  • No. 20 (Tainan City - Haiduan, Taitung): Southern Cross-Island Highway
    Southern Cross-Island Highway
    The Southern Cross-Island Highway , also known as Taiwan Highway No. 20, links Tainan City, in Taiwan's Southwest, with Taitung, in Taiwan's East...

    , (南部橫貫公路)
    • No. 20A
    • No. 20B
  • No. 21 (Tianneng, Taichung - Sanwei, Kaohsiung)
    • No. 21A
  • No. 22 (Nanzi, Kaohsiung - Gaoshu, Kaohsiung)
  • No. 23 (Fuli, Hualian - Donghe, Taitung
    Donghe, Taitung
    Donghe , located in northeastern Taitung County, is a rural township close to the rural Fuli Township.-Geography:It is bounded on the northeast by Chenggong, east by Pacific Ocean, west by neighboring Chihshang Township, Guanshan Township, and Luye Township, and south by Beinan Township.This...

    )
  • No. 24 (Pingtung City
    Pingtung City
    Pingtung City is the capital of Pingtung County, Taiwan.-Geography:Pingtung is located in Pingtung County, the southernmost county in Taiwan. It is located east of Kaohsiung and Fengshan, and centered between the western coast and the eastern mountain range. The climate is humid and extremely hot...

     - Wutai, Pingtung
    Wutai, Pingtung
    Wutai is a rural township in Pingtung County, Taiwan. It has a population total of 2,748 and an area of 278.7960 square kilometres.-External links:*...

    )
  • No. 25 (Fengshan District - Linyuan, Kaohsiung
    Linyuan, Kaohsiung
    Linyuan District is a district of Kaohsiung City in southern Taiwan. It has 71,336 inhabitants in 2007. It is the southernmost district of the city.- Built up area :...

    )
  • No. 26 (Fenggang, Pingtung - Kenting National Park
    Kenting National Park
    Kenting National Park is a national park located in the Hengchun Peninsula of Pingtung County, Taiwan, covering Hengchun, Checheng and Manjhou Townships. Established on January 1, 1984, it is Taiwan's oldest and southernmost national park, covering the southernmost area of the Taiwan island...

    )
  • No. 27 (Laonong, Kaohsiung - Wunong, Pingtung)
    • No. 27A
  • No. 28 (Alian, Kaohsiung - Maolin, Kaohsiung)
  • No. 63
    Provincial Highway No. 63 (Taiwan)
    Provincial Highway No. 63 is an expressway, which begins in Taichung City at the intersection of Guoguang Road and Zhongming South Road and ends in Caotun, Nantou on Bixing Road . It is commonly known as Zhongtou Expressway.-Length:The total length of the highway is 18.9 km...

     (Taichung City - Nantou City
    Nantou City
    Nantou City is located in the northwest of Nantou County, Taiwan, Republic of China. It lies between the Bagua Mountains and the Maoluo River and is the seat of Nantou County. Freeway No. 3 serves Nantou City...

    ) (Zhongtou Highway, 中投公路)
    • No. 63A

Expressways

  • No. 61
    Provincial Highway No. 61 (Taiwan)
    Provincial Highway No. 61 is usually known as West Coast Expressway . There are several sections open for the traffic. Others are still under construction.-Length:As of December 2008, the following sections have been completed:...

     (Bali District - Guanyin, Taoyuan
    Guanyin, Taoyuan
    Guanyin is a rural, coastal township in western Taoyuan County, Taiwan. Guanyin is also the name of a god in Taoism in Taiwan.-Overview:* Area: 87.98 km²* Population: 60,909 people...

    , Xiangshan, Hsinchu - Baishatun, Miaoli and Yuanli, Miaoli
    Yuanli, Miaoli
    Yuanli is an urban township in Miaoli County, Taiwan. It has a population total of 48,989 and an area of 68.2473 square kilometres.-External links:*...

     - Fuxing, Changhua, Mailiao, Yunlin
    Mailiao, Yunlin
    Mailiao is a township in northwestern Yunlin County, Taiwan. With a population of 33,210, Mailiao has an area of 80.1668 km2.The township's chief industry is the Formosa Mailiao Refinery, an oil refinery that processes of crude oil per day; the refinery exports it goods via the township's...

     - Qigu, Tainan) (West Coastal Expressway, 西濱快速道路)
    • No. 61A
    • No. 61B
  • No. 62
    Provincial Highway No. 62 (Taiwan)
    Provincial Highway No. 62 is an expressway that begins in the Anle District of Keelung City, and ends in Ruifang District, New Taipei. It has Anle Terminal, Madong SIC., Qidu One IC., Qidu Two IC. , Dahua SIC. , Nuannuan IC., Ruifang IC., and Ruibin Terminal.-Intersections with other Freeways and...

     (Dawulun, Keelung - Madong, Keelung and Ruifang District - Ruibin, New Taipei)
  • No. 64
    Provincial Highway No. 64 (Taiwan)
    Provincial Highway No. 64 is an expressway, which begins in the Port of Taipei in Bali and ends in front of Xiulang Bridge in Zhonghe.-Districts of New Taipei City Along the Route:*Bali*Wugu*Sanchong*Banqiao*Yonghe*Zhonghe*Xindian...

     (Bali District - Zhonghe District)
  • No. 65 (Wugu District - Tucheng District)
  • No. 66
    Provincial Highway No. 66 (Taiwan)
    Provincial Highway No. 66 is an expressway, which begins in Guanyin, Taoyuan on the Provincial Highway No. 15 and ends in Daxi, Taoyuan on the County Highway No. 112A.-Major Cities Along the Route:*Yangmei, Taoyuan*Pingzhen City*Zhongli City*Daxi, Taoyuan...

     (Guanyin, Taoyuan
    Guanyin, Taoyuan
    Guanyin is a rural, coastal township in western Taoyuan County, Taiwan. Guanyin is also the name of a god in Taoism in Taiwan.-Overview:* Area: 87.98 km²* Population: 60,909 people...

     - Daxi, Taoyuan)
  • No. 68
    Provincial Highway No. 68 (Taiwan)
    Provincial Highway No. 68 is an expressway, which begins in Hsinchu City at Nanliao on the Provincial Highway No. 15 and ends in Zhudong on Zhongfeng Road .-Intersections with other Freeways and Expressways:...

     (Nanliao, Hsinchu - Zhudong, Hsinchu
    Zhudong, Hsinchu
    Zhudong is an urban township in central Hsinchu County, Taiwan. Part of Hsinchu Science Park is in Zhudong. Also located in Zhudong is the main campus of the Industrial Technology Research Institute...

    )
    • No. 68A
  • No. 72
    Provincial Highway No. 72 (Taiwan)
    Provincial Highway No. 72 is an expressway, which begins in Houlong, Miaoli on Guanghua Road and ends in Shitan, Miaoli on the Provincial Highway No. 3.-Intersections with other Freeways and Expressways:...

     (Houlong, Miaoli
    Houlong, Miaoli
    Houlong Township is an urban township in western Miaoli County, Taiwan. It is surrounded by the Taiwan Strait on the west and Zaoqiao Township on the east.*Area: 75.809 km²*Population: 39,860 people -External links:*...

     - Shitan, Miaoli)
  • No. 74
    Provincial Highway No. 74 (Taiwan)
    Provincial Highway No. 74 is an expressway, which begins in Changhua City on Zhangnan Road of and ends in Taichung City at the intersection of Songzhu Road and Huazhong Road. It is commonly known as Zhongzhang Expressway.-Intersections with other Freeways and Expressways:*National Highway No....

     (Kuaiguan, Changhua - Taichung City)
    • No. 74A
  • No. 76
    Provincial Highway No. 76 (Taiwan)
    Provincial Highway No. 76 is an expressway, which begins in the border of Puyan, Changhua and Fuxing, Changhua on Jhangshuei Road and ends in Caotun, Nantou on ....

     (Fuxing, Changhua - Yuanlin, Changhua
    Yuanlin, Changhua
    Yuanlin is an urban township in eastern Changhua County, Taiwan. The most populous township in Taiwan, Yuanlin is also the second largest settlement in Changhua County, after the county seat of Changhua City.-History:...

    )
  • No. 78
    Provincial Highway No. 78 (Taiwan)
    Provincial Highway No. 78 begins in Taixi, Yunlin, Taiwan, on Zhonghua Road and ends in Gukeng, Yunlin on National Highway No. 3.-Intersections with other Freeways and Expressways:...

     (Taixi, Yunlin - Gukeng, Yunlin
    Gukeng, Yunlin
    Gukeng is a rural township in eastern Yunlin County, Taiwan. It is famous for agricultural produce, most notably arabica coffee.* Area: 116.61 km²* Population: 35,525 people...

    )
  • No. 82
    Provincial Highway No. 82 (Taiwan)
    Provincial Highway No. 82 is an expressway, which begins in Puzi City on Xuefu Road and ends in Shuishang, Chiayi on National Highway No. 3.-Intersections with other Freeways and Expressways:*National Highway No. 1 at Chiayi SIC. in Shuishang, Chiayi...

     (Taibao City
    Taibao City
    Taibao City is the seat of Chiayi County, Taiwan. It was named after the government position of Wang De-lu , whose hometown is Taibao, in the 19th century.Taiwan High Speed Rail Chiayi station is located in Taibao.* Area: 66.90 km²...

     - Shuishang, Chiayi
    Shuishang, Chiayi
    Shuishang is a rural township in Chiayi County, Taiwan. It has a population total of 52,638 and an area of 69.1198 square kilometres.-External links:*...

    )
  • No. 84
    Provincial Highway No. 84 (Taiwan)
    Provincial Highway No. 84 is an expressway, which begins in Guantian, Tainan on the Provincial Highway No. 1 and ends in Yujing, Tainan on Jhongshan Road .-Intersections with other Freeways and Expressways:...

     (Guantian, Tainan
    Guantian, Tainan
    Guantian is a rural district in central Tainan City, Republic of China, commonly known as Taiwan. It is the hometown of the former President of the Republic of China, Chen Shui-bian.-Education:* Chianan Elementary School* Duba Elementary School...

     - Yujing, Tainan
    Yujing, Tainan
    Yujing is a rural district in eastern Tainan City, Taiwan. It is famous for its cultivation of mangoes.After a 6.4-magnitude earthquake hit southern Taiwan in March 2010, pillars were severely damaged at Yujing Junior High School forcing school officials to cancel some classes.* Area: 76.3662 km²*...

    )
  • No. 86
    Provincial Highway No. 86 (Taiwan)
    Provincial Highway No. 86 is an expressway, which begins in Rende, Tainan on Erren Road and ends in Guanmiao, Tainan on National Highway No. 3.-Intersections with other Freeways and Expressways:...

     (Rende, Tainan
    Rende, Tainan
    Rende is a rural district in southern Tainan City, Republic of China .* Area: 50.77 km²* Population: 66,682 people -External links:*...

     - Guanmiao, Tainan
    Guanmiao, Tainan
    Guanmiao District is a rural district in southeastern Tainan City, Taiwan. Guanmiao Service Area and an interchange of the Formosa Freeway is located in here.* Area: 53.64 km²* Population: 36,882 people...

    )
  • No. 88
    Provincial Highway No. 88 (Taiwan)
    Provincial Highway No. 88 is an expressway, which begins in Fengshan City on National Highway No. 1 and ends in Zhutian, Pingtung on Yong-an Road.-Intersections with other Freeways and Expressways:*National Highway No. 1 at Wujia SIC. in Fengshan District...

     (Fengshan District - Chaozhou, Pingtung
    Chaozhou, Pingtung
    Chaojhou Township is an urban township in western Pingtung County, Taiwan.Chaojhou is named for the mainland Chinese city of Chaozhou. According to some historians, settlers from that city landed here in 1724, and thus named this area after their hometown....

    )


Since July 1, 2006, the Freeway and Expressway Traffic Control Regulation (zh:高速公路及快速公路交通管制規則) applies the same traffic rules on the freeways to the expressways, including the same prohibited traffic and following distances. While motorcycles remain generally banned from the expressways, Article 19 of the Freeway and Expressway Traffic Control Regulation makes it officially possible to allow a motorcycle with a cylinder capacity of more than 550 cm3 on certain expressways subject to the following restrictions:
  1. No sharing the same lane to drive side-by-side with or to overtake another vehicle, not even another motorcycle.
  2. Headlight on at all times.


A trial program (been finished) to allow a motorcycle with a cylinder capacity of more than 550 cm3 on Provincial Highway No. 68
Provincial Highway No. 68 (Taiwan)
Provincial Highway No. 68 is an expressway, which begins in Hsinchu City at Nanliao on the Provincial Highway No. 15 and ends in Zhudong on Zhongfeng Road .-Intersections with other Freeways and Expressways:...

 and Provincial Highway No. 72
Provincial Highway No. 72 (Taiwan)
Provincial Highway No. 72 is an expressway, which begins in Houlong, Miaoli on Guanghua Road and ends in Shitan, Miaoli on the Provincial Highway No. 3.-Intersections with other Freeways and Expressways:...

 was started in January 2005 for one year. This trial program was extended for one year. On Sunday, July 2, 2006, more than 1500 Taiwanese motorcyclists took the streets in Taipei City to demand more open highways while Provincial Highways 68 and 72 remained the only Taiwanese expressways open to very powerful motorcycles.

Effective Thursday, November 1, 2007, a motorcycle with a cylinder capacity of at least 550 cm3 may be driven on expressways but not freeways yet. This major change has resulted in mixed reactions.

County routes

County routes are numbered from 101 to 205 since the numbered highways in Penghu (Pescadores) are incorporated into the system. The lowest number 101 is in Taipei. The route numbers generally increase moving north to south. Routes 201 to 205 are in Penghu.

Township routes

A township route is prefixed the abbreviation of the county in a Chinese character where it is located. The sample signs above show Hsinchu Routes 22, 21, and 23.

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
x
OK