Basic Design Approved for First Phase of Kaohsiung-Pingtung Second Expressway, Aiming for September Start

Pingtung County, May 22 (CNA) - The Kaohsiung-Pingtung Second Expressway is expected to be tendered and constructed in seven sections, with the C1 section in Pingtung being the priority. Chen Chin-te, Minister of the Public Construction Commission (PCC), inspected the site today and announced that the basic design has been approved in principle, with a target to begin construction this September.

Chen stated that the C1 section is located at a critical node on Provincial Highway 3. It will strengthen transportation transfer functions in areas such as Dashu, Ligang, and Jiuru, improve the efficiency of connections between local roads and the expressway system, and serve as a vital external transportation node for the future Pingtung High Speed Rail special zone. He urged the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) to accelerate subsequent operations, aiming for a September start and completion by 2029.

Chen added that he has instructed the MOTC to properly plan construction routes and traffic maintenance measures to minimize impacts on surrounding traffic and the environment. Furthermore, the MOTC must strengthen the integration of interfaces between sections, bridge connections, and construction coordination mechanisms to ensure smooth progress.

The PCC explained that the "Kaohsiung-Pingtung Second Expressway" is planned to be tendered in seven sections, with the C1 section being the priority. The project spans approximately 0.88 kilometers with a budget of about NT$3.48 billion. It includes an elevated bridge crossing Provincial Highway 3, as well as parallel ramps and side roads under the bridge. With the basic design approved, the MOTC can begin the tendering process once it incorporates the review comments.

The PCC stated in a press release that the route starts from the Zuoying HSR station in the west and reaches the Jiuru section of National Highway 3 in the east. It will connect with National Highway 1, National Highway 10, the future National Highway 7, the Kaohsiung metropolitan expressway system, and major arterial roads in Pingtung, thereby improving traffic efficiency in the region.

The PCC noted that once the entire expressway is completed, travel time from Zuoying, Kaohsiung to Changzhi, Pingtung will be reduced from approximately 50 minutes to about 30 minutes. Beyond resolving commuting bottlenecks, it will link logistics corridors and tech clusters such as the Kaohsiung S-Corridor Science Park, the Asia New Bay Area, the Pingtung Science Park, and the Pingtung Technology Industrial Park. This will enhance the competitiveness of southern tech industries and implement President Lai Ching-te's national development vision of a "Balanced Taiwan" and a "Great Southern New Silicon Valley."

Additionally, it will shorten travel time for Pingtung residents seeking emergency medical care at Kaohsiung medical centers, substantially improving regional medical resilience and quality of life. It will also connect tourist attractions such as Fo Guang Shan, Meinong, Qishan, and various spots in Pingtung, driving the upgrade of tourism and high-value agriculture in southern Taiwan.