The Baguashan Tunnel (Chinese: 八卦山隧道), on Provincial Highway No. 76, Taiwan, transverses Baguashan (八卦山) between Lincuo IC. (林厝交流道) and Zhongxing JCT. (中興系統交流道). The length of the north tube for westbound traffic is 4,928 m (3.062 mi). The length of the south tube for eastbound traffic is 4,935 m (3.066 mi). Connecting Yuanlin, Changhua and Caotun, Nantou, its opening significantly reduced the travel time between Changhua and Nantou.
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| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Other name(s) | Chinese: 八卦山隧道 |
| Location | Taiwan |
| Coordinates | 24°2′48″N 120°36′16″E / 24.04667°N 120.60444°E |
| Status | Open |
| Route | Provincial Highway 76 |
| Operation | |
| Work begun | 15 November 1996 |
| Opened | 29 April 2005 |
| Operator | Directorate General of Highways |
| Technical | |
| Length | 4,928 m (3.062 mi) (westbound) 4,935 m (3.066 mi) (eastbound) |
| No. of lanes | 4 |
| Operating speed | 80 km/h (50 mph) |
It was the longest highway tunnel in Taiwan when opened to traffic in April 2005, until the top rank moved to Hsuehshan Tunnel in National Highway No. 5 in June 2006. It is now the second longest highway tunnel in Taiwan.
History edit
- On 15 November 1996, construction started.
- On 5 October 2000, a civil house above the tunnel collapsed and the work stopped for one year.
- On 29 April 2005, the tunnel opened to traffic in the first step. Only small vehicles were allowed. A truck over 3500 kg in gross weights and a bus with 10 or more seats including the driver were prohibited while the authorities were not ready to deal with emergencies involving large vehicles.
- On 5 September 2005, the first vehicular accident occurred. The supposedly drunk driver hit the sidewall in the tunnel and caused a vehicular fire.
- On 1 January 2006, the tunnel opened to buses.
- On 1 January 2007, the tunnel opened to trucks less than 21 tons in gross weights.
Related information edit
- Lanes: The tunnel has two lanes in each of the two tubes.
- Speed limit: 80 km/h
- Constructing authority: Directorate General of Highways (公路總局)
- Maintaining authority: Directorate General of Highways
- Traffic opening has been step by step. It is now the third step.
- The first step allowed small vehicles on 29 April 2005.
- The second step allowed buses on 1 January 2006.
- The third step allowed heavy trucks on 1 January 2007. But vehicles with hazardous materials or being too long, too wide, too high, or too heavy (more than 21 tons in gross weights, including combination vehicles like full-trailers and semi-trailers) are still remain banned.