The tunnels are bored through the Hsuehshan Range. The road connects Taipei through New Taipei to Yilan County,[1] cutting down the journey time from two hours to just half an hour.[2] It bypasses the rural district of Pinglin, which used to receive high traffic prior to the completion of the tunnel. One of the key aims of constructing the tunnel was to connect the western coast of Taiwan, where 95% of the population lives, to the eastern coast of the island and in doing so tackle the unbalanced development on the island.[1] It is constructed with one pilot tunnel and two main tunnels for eastbound and westbound traffic. The total length is 12.942 km (8.042 mi), making the Hsuehshan Tunnel the ninth longestroad tunnel in the world (fifth at the time of opening) and sixth longest in East Asia. The tunnel opened in June 2006 to severe traffic jams.[3]
Tunnel Constructionedit
Tunnel construction began in July 1991 and took 15 years to complete and cost a total of NT$90.6 billion (US$2.83 billion).[4][5] Tunnel construction used 370,000 m3 (13,000,000 cu ft) of concrete, 2,000 kilometers (1,200 mi) of cables, and 2,000 lighting units.[5]
While excavating the tunnel, engineers encountered difficult geological problems such as fractured rock and massive inflows of water, which caused severe delays. One of the three TBMs on the westbound tunnel was buried by a ground collapse. In order to speed up the tunnel boring, an additional working interface in Interchange Station No. 2 (under Ventilation Shaft No. 2) was built. Along the tunnel alignment, there are six major faults, ninety-eight fracture zones, and thirty six high-pressure groundwater sources. Hence, serious tunnel collapses with groundwater flooding took place periodically during tunnel construction. Altogether, 25 people died during 15 years of construction.[6]
Operationsedit
When traveling through the Hsuehshan Tunnel, vehicles must not exceed the 90 km/h (56 mph) limit; otherwise the drivers face a NT$3,000 (US$93.75) to NT$6,000 (US$187.5) fine.[7] The usual minimum speed limit is 70 km/h. Additionally vehicles must maintain a separation distance of 50 m (164 ft) under normal situations. Even when the speed is less than 20 km/h (12 mph) due to congestion, a separation distance of 20 m (66 ft) must still be maintained.[8] Double solid lines prohibit lane changes. Automated road-rule enforcement cameras are used to monitor speeders, tailgaters, and those who unlawfully change lanes. Announcements of zero tolerance of speeding meant that those traveling at 71 km/h would be fined. After creating controversies,[9] effective 00:00 (UTC+8) on September 16, 2006, a tolerance of 10 km/h has been allowed so speeds up to 80 km/h are no longer automatically penalized.[10]
As of Nov 1, 2010, the speed limit was raised to 90 km/h to allievate traffic[11]
Xueshan Tunnel west entrance under construction in 2002.
Tunnel informationedit
Tunnel length:
Pilot tunnel: 12,941 m (8.041 mi; 42,457.349 ft)
Main tunnels:
Southbound tunnel: 12,917 m (8.026 mi; 42,378.609 ft)
Northbound tunnel: 12,942 m (8.042 mi; 42,460.630 ft)
Constructed by: RSEA
Design speed: 70 km/h (Operational speed limit was raised to 90 km/h)
^. PChome Online (in Chinese). 12 June 2006. Archived from the original on 5 September 2006. Retrieved 4 March 2012.
^"經緯國際媒體有限公司 | Asia Bike Media(ABM) – Bike Media".
^"Increase in speed limit alleviates traffic: NFB - Taipei Times". www.taipeitimes.com. December 8, 2010.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hsuehshan Tunnel.
Xueshan Tunnel
May 07, 2024
hsuehshan, tunnel, chinese, 雪山隧道, pinyin, xuěshān, suìdào, longest, tunnel, taiwan, located, national, freeway, opened, june, 2006, 雪山隧道, east, entranceoverviewlocationtaiwancoordinatesnorth, entrance, 9386000, 71500, 9386000, 71500, south, entrance, 8478000, . The Hsuehshan Tunnel Chinese 雪山隧道 pinyin Xueshan Suidao is the longest tunnel in Taiwan located on the National Freeway 5 It opened on June 16 2006 Hsuehshan Tunnel雪山隧道Hsuehshan Tunnel East EntranceOverviewLocationTaiwanCoordinatesNorth Entrance 24 56 18 96 N 121 42 54 E 24 9386000 N 121 71500 E 24 9386000 121 71500 South Entrance 24 50 52 08 N 121 47 27 6 E 24 8478000 N 121 791000 E 24 8478000 121 791000StatusActiveStartPinglin District New Taipei CityEndToucheng Township Yilan CountyOperationWork begunJuly 1991OpenedJune 16 2006OperatorFreeway BureauTrafficRoad tunnelTechnicalLength12 941 km 8 041 mi No of lanes4Operating speed70 to 90 km hHighest elevation208 m 682 ft Lowest elevation44 m 144 ft Hsuehshan TunnelTraditional Chinese雪山隧道TranscriptionsStandard MandarinHanyu PinyinXueshan SuidaoWade GilesHsueh3 shan1 Sui4 tao4Tongyong PinyinSyueshan Sueidao Contents 1 Overview 2 Tunnel Construction 3 Operations 4 Tunnel information 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksOverview editThe tunnels are bored through the Hsuehshan Range The road connects Taipei through New Taipei to Yilan County 1 cutting down the journey time from two hours to just half an hour 2 It bypasses the rural district of Pinglin which used to receive high traffic prior to the completion of the tunnel One of the key aims of constructing the tunnel was to connect the western coast of Taiwan where 95 of the population lives to the eastern coast of the island and in doing so tackle the unbalanced development on the island 1 It is constructed with one pilot tunnel and two main tunnels for eastbound and westbound traffic The total length is 12 942 km 8 042 mi making the Hsuehshan Tunnel the ninth longest road tunnel in the world fifth at the time of opening and sixth longest in East Asia The tunnel opened in June 2006 to severe traffic jams 3 Tunnel Construction editTunnel construction began in July 1991 and took 15 years to complete and cost a total of NT 90 6 billion US 2 83 billion 4 5 Tunnel construction used 370 000 m3 13 000 000 cu ft of concrete 2 000 kilometers 1 200 mi of cables and 2 000 lighting units 5 While excavating the tunnel engineers encountered difficult geological problems such as fractured rock and massive inflows of water which caused severe delays One of the three TBMs on the westbound tunnel was buried by a ground collapse In order to speed up the tunnel boring an additional working interface in Interchange Station No 2 under Ventilation Shaft No 2 was built Along the tunnel alignment there are six major faults ninety eight fracture zones and thirty six high pressure groundwater sources Hence serious tunnel collapses with groundwater flooding took place periodically during tunnel construction Altogether 25 people died during 15 years of construction 6 Operations editWhen traveling through the Hsuehshan Tunnel vehicles must not exceed the 90 km h 56 mph limit otherwise the drivers face a NT 3 000 US 93 75 to NT 6 000 US 187 5 fine 7 The usual minimum speed limit is 70 km h Additionally vehicles must maintain a separation distance of 50 m 164 ft under normal situations Even when the speed is less than 20 km h 12 mph due to congestion a separation distance of 20 m 66 ft must still be maintained 8 Double solid lines prohibit lane changes Automated road rule enforcement cameras are used to monitor speeders tailgaters and those who unlawfully change lanes Announcements of zero tolerance of speeding meant that those traveling at 71 km h would be fined After creating controversies 9 effective 00 00 UTC 8 on September 16 2006 a tolerance of 10 km h has been allowed so speeds up to 80 km h are no longer automatically penalized 10 As of Nov 1 2010 the speed limit was raised to 90 km h to allievate traffic 11 nbsp Xueshan Tunnel west entrance under construction in 2002 Tunnel information editTunnel length Pilot tunnel 12 941 m 8 041 mi 42 457 349 ft Main tunnels Southbound tunnel 12 917 m 8 026 mi 42 378 609 ft Northbound tunnel 12 942 m 8 042 mi 42 460 630 ft Constructed by RSEA Design speed 70 km h Operational speed limit was raised to 90 km h Location Pinglin District New Taipei City and Toucheng Township Yilan County Ventilation shaft 3 Total cost NT 18 555 000 000 US 562 273 000 Date of groundbreaking Pilot tunnel July 1991 Main tunnels July 23 1993 Date of breakthrough Pilot tunnel October 2003 Main tunnels Southbound tunnel September 2004 Northbound tunnel April 2004 Date of opening June 16 2006See also editXueshan Xueshan RangeReferences edit a b Asia s longest road tunnel opens BBC News 2006 06 16 Retrieved 2010 07 18 Tunnel a testament to persistence Taipei Times 2006 06 22 Retrieved 2010 07 18 Hsuehshan tunnel proves popular with motorists Taipei Times 2006 06 18 Retrieved 2010 07 18 Discovery to air documentary on Hsuehshan Tunnel Taipei Times 2006 08 19 Retrieved 2010 07 18 a b Tunnel opening draws eager crowds Taipei Times 2006 06 17 Retrieved 2010 07 18 Traffic flows smoothly through Hsuehshan Tunnel updated 12 39 a m The China Post 2006 06 17 Retrieved 2010 07 18 Media test tunnel s emergency systems Taipei Times 2006 06 12 Retrieved 2010 07 18 元氣網 聯合新聞網 元氣網 雪山隧道超速1公里罰3000元 民眾破口大罵強盜政府 PChome Online in Chinese 12 June 2006 Archived from the original on 5 September 2006 Retrieved 4 March 2012 經緯國際媒體有限公司 Asia Bike Media ABM Bike Media Increase in speed limit alleviates traffic NFB Taipei Times www taipeitimes com December 8 2010 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hsuehshan Tunnel Xueshan Tunnel Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Hsuehshan Tunnel amp oldid 1217024531, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
