Traffic Control on Suhua Highway for Reconstruction 蘇花坍方處年後施工 今起交管出現壅塞

In order to carry out reconstruction of the Suhua Highway, traffic control has been implemented starting on Feb. 2.

Although the landslide at the 159.3-kilometer mark on Suhua Highway was opened to traffic before the Lunar New Year, reconstruction started after the holidays. Traffic control started on Feb. 1, causing some traffic congestion on the first day.

Chen He-jen, Director, Nanao Section, 4th Maintenance Office, DGH: “The protection construction of the upper slope will continue from Feb. 1 to 23, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day. Traffic will be released every hour for 15 minutes.”

Some drivers complained about waiting too long, while others claimed they lived in indigenous villages and hoped that the control personnel would let them pass or increase the time for passing.

Mr. Chiang, Driver Going North: “Cars should be let through every half an hour.”

Mr. Huang, Driver Going North: “It is certainly very inconvenient for the public. But this is also unavoidable.”

In addition, drivers were begging the police to let them pass at the Guanyuan control station on the Central Cross-Island Highway. On-site control personnel was quite troubled for various reasons.

Driver: “Please. We've literally been out since 5 a.m. We really don't want to, but do you want us all to stay here and fight? We have already circled half of Taiwan for thousands of kilometers and we can't get back home. What do you want us to do?”

Controller: “The 117.4 kilometers mark on Provincial 8 Highway collapsed on April 26 last year. Relevant units have released traffic control information already and there are signs along the way. There are still many drivers who are negligent. Every evening, there are still many drivers that don't know about traffic control and are stranded in front of the control station.”

The Directorate General of Highways stated that the Suhua Highway will be open for normal traffic during the consecutive holidays from Feb. 24 to 28. Traffic will be allowed to pass from Dayuling to Taroko on the Central Cross-Island Highway at 7:00 a.m., 8:00 am., 10:00 a.m., and 3:00 p.m. Each opening will last one hour. Please abide by the traffic control to ensure safety. 

雖然蘇花公路159.3公里處的坍方趕在過年前開放通行，但連續假期後工程單位就要展開施工，從今天上午開始交通管制，第1天就出現車輛壅塞。

南澳工務段長陳鶴仁說：「在春節過後接續進行上邊坡的保護施工，從今天（2/1）到2/23，每天上午8點到晚上9點進行施工管制，每整點放行15分鐘。」

部分駕駛抱怨等太久，還有人聲稱自己住在裡面部落希望管制人員放行，或能能增加放行時間。

北上駕駛江先生說：「應該是半小時管制一次這樣。」

北上駕駛黃先生也認為：「對民眾來講，當然非常不方便，但是這也是沒辦法的事吧。」

此外，台8線中橫公路的關原坍方管制站，出現有駕駛向警方哭鬧要求通融放行，各種理由讓現場管制人員相當困擾。

有民眾不滿地表示：「求求你們，我們真的從早上5點就出發了，我們真的不是故意的，你要我們都待在這邊鬧是不是？我們千里迢迢已經繞了半個台灣了，繞到這邊來，然後回不去，你要我們怎樣？」

管制人員說：「台八線117.4公里自從去年4/26坍方，相關單位發布管制訊息，或者沿路建立公告，仍有許多用路人疏於注意，每天傍晚還是有許多不知道這個訊息的用路人，受困在管制站前。」

公路總局表示，蘇花公路將2月24日到2月28日連續假期間開放正常通行，台8線中橫大禹嶺到太魯閣的管制則是維持上午7時、8時、10時、下午3時各放行1小時，請用路人遵守管制才能確保自身安全。