Waited for 35 years! Provincial Line 76 is finally open to traffic, and it only takes 35 minutes to go directly from Caotun to Fangyuan

The elevated section of the west extension of Provincial Highway 76. (Provided by Changhua County Government)

After eight years of construction on the "Western Extension of Provincial Highway 76" on the east-west expressway in Changhua County, the "last mile", a 4.28-kilometer viaduct (from Puyan Changshui Road to Erlin Erxi Road), is scheduled to open to traffic at 12 noon on the 8th, announcing that the 42.25-kilometer long Provincial Highway 76 (Caotun-Fangyuan) is complete!

Provincial Line 76 is the longest east-west expressway under construction in Taiwan! The eastern section (Caotun-Puyan) was completed as early as 2005. It runs through the Bagua Mountains. After the Baguashan Tunnel was opened to traffic, subsequent projects were suspended due to route selection. Whether the "Western Extension Section" should go to Hanbao or Fang Yuan could not be finalized for a long time. It was not until 2018 that the then Executive President Lai Ching-te decided on the current route, which is to go southwest from Puyan to Fang Yuan. Provincial Line 76 took 35 years from planning to completion. It is the longest east-west expressway and has a great impact on the central road network.

The eastern section of Provincial Line 76 was completed and opened to traffic in 2005, connecting Caotun, Nantou and Yuanlin, Changhua. The opening time between the two places was saved by more than 30 minutes. It opened up the living circle of Changhua and Tou, which won a good reputation for the Bian government at the time. Now the west extension section has improved the transportation to Erlin and Fangyuan. In the past, Yuanlin or National Highway 1 had to go to Erlin. Take Yuanlu Road and Erxi Road, passing through Xihu City and vast fields on the way. The drive takes about 40 minutes. Now there is an elevated road section that bypasses Xihu City, which saves 20 minutes of driving time. The west extension section opens up the "Rendu Second Line" in South Changhua. After the merger of the east and west sections of Provincial Line 76, it will take only 35 minutes to connect the mountain city of Nantou to Fangyuan Beach.

The western end of the west extension of Provincial Highway 76 was changed from Hanbao to Fangyuan. (File photo)