The Dongshi-Shigang section of Dongfeng Expressway is expected to be opened to traffic in early December

The Dongshi to Shigang section of the Dongfeng Expressway will be opened to traffic in early December.

The "Dongshi-Fengyuan Living Circle Expressway" (Dongfeng Expressway) is about 9.6 kilometers long with a total cost of nearly 20 billion yuan. The section from Dongshi to Shigang was completed in September this year. Taichung Mayor Lu Xiuyan said in response to questions from the council today that the opening ceremony will be held in early December, and a road running event will be held in November. The last section of the Shigang Jinxing Jiufang section will also start construction in September, and the entire section is expected to be completed and opened to traffic in 2029.

Councilor Wu Zhenjia will always ask questions and concerns about the progress of Dongfeng Expressway at today's meeting. The second-mark Shigang Jinxing Jiufang section of the last contracted section will start construction on September 10, with a cost of 4.5 billion yuan. The 2.7-kilometer tunnel project is the most difficult. He is concerned about the completion of the Dongshi to Shigang section, when it will be opened, and when the entire Dongfeng Expressway will be completed.

Lu Xiuyan said that the Dongfeng Expressway cost nearly 20 billion yuan and was divided into 5 bids. The Dongshi to Shigang section has been resumed in October 2022. After nearly 3 years of construction, it has been completed and is currently undergoing acceptance inspection. It will be opened to traffic in early December. An auspicious day is currently being selected to officially open to traffic. The second bid of the B Shigang interchange to the tunnel section has been awarded in August and construction will start in September.

The Construction Bureau added that the section from Dongshi to Shigang is expected to be opened to traffic by the end of this year, and the entire line is targeted to be completed in 2029. After completion, it is expected to effectively disperse about 45% of the traffic flow on Provincial Highway 3, improve the transportation efficiency and industrial transportation capacity in mountain cities, and drive tourism and local development along the line. It will also improve the overall expressway network of Greater Taichung, an important transportation lifeline for the development of mountain cities.

Lu Xiuyan said that the opening ceremony of the Dongshi to Shigang section of the Dongfeng Expressway will be held in early December, and a road running event will be held in November.