National Freeway 3

National freeway 3
National freeway 3
Formosa Freeway
Route information
	Maintained by Taiwan Area National Freeway Bureau
Length	430.5 km (267.5 mi)
Existed	January 19th, 1993–present
Major junctions
North end	Prov 2 in Keelung
	Nat 1 in Xizhi; Nat 5 in Nangang, Taipei; Nat 2 in Yingge; Nat 1 in Baoshan; Nat 4 in Qingshui; Nat 1 in Changhua; Nat 6 in Wufeng; Nat 8 in Xinhua; Nat 10 in Yanchao;
South end	Dapengwan National Scenic Area in Linbian
Location
Country	Taiwan
Counties	Keelung, New Taipei, Taipei,; Taoyuan, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Taichung, Changhua, Nantou, Yunlin, Chiayi, Tainan, Kaohsiung, Pingtung
Highway system
	Highway system in Taiwan;

Freeway No. 3 (Chinese: 國道三號), also known as Formosa Freeway, is the second North-South freeway in Taiwan. It begins in Keelung City at Jijin Interchange on the Provincial Highway No. 2 (Jijin Road) and ends in Linbian, Pingtung on the Provincial Highway No. 17.

The total length of the highway is 430.5 km (267.5 mi), with 55 interchanges, 13 junctions, 11 toll stations, and 7 service areas en route. Aside from the 55 public interchanges, there are also some interchanges reserved for governmental usage.

Naming

Freeways in Taiwan are officially coded "Freeways" with their respective numbers. By this principle, Freeway No. 3 is coded Freeway No. 3 (國道三號) in official documents or on road signs. Besides the numeric name, on 1 November 2004 it was named the Formosa Freeway (福爾摩沙高速公路) in a naming competition; however, its old alias Second Freeway (第二高速公路 or 北二高) is more popular among the road users.

Form

This freeway is actually a bypass form. It was mostly routed through suburban and rural areas of Western Taiwan. Various expressways and east-west freeways link Freeway 3 with urban areas typically served by Freeway 1. The purpose of this freeway is to inspire the economic activities in the rural area.

History

The original plan was only intended to build a second freeway between Taipei and Hsinchu. The construction began in 1987. Tucheng IC - Sanying IC was opened in January 1993, followed by Zhonghe IC to Hsinchu SIC in August 1993. Extension from Hsinchu SIC to Xiangshan IC was finished in February 1996. In March 1996, Xizhi SIC - Muzha IC was opened. The final phase of the north section was Muzha IC. - Zhonghe IC, which was completed in August 1997. The extension between Xizhi SIC and Jijin IC completed in August 2000.

The construction of the freeway south of Hsinchu City began in 1993. In February 2000, Xinhua JCT. - Jiuru IC. was open for the traffic. It was followed by Douliu IC - Xinhua JCT. In November 2001, Xiangshan IC. - Zhunan IC in December 2001, Zhunan IC - Houlong IC in May 2002, Caotun IC - Douliu IC in June 2002, Zhonggang SIC - Longjing IC in October 2002, and Houlong IC - Zhonggang JCT., Kuaiguan IC - Caotun IC in January 2003. The entire project was completed in January 2004 when Longjing IC - Kuaiguan IC was opened.

2010 landslide

On April 25, 2010, a landslide occurred on a segment of Highway 3 near Xizhi. A large amount of dirt buried both directions of the freeway. Four cars were buried under the debris, killing four people.^[1] Bad hillside anchoring was blamed as a possible cause, as it had not been raining at the time of the collapse, and an earthquake was not registered.

Repairs to the freeway were completed on June 19, 2010 and normal traffic flow restored.^[2]

Exit list

County	Location	km^[3]	mi	Exit	Name	Destinations	Notes
Keelung City	Anle District	0.0	0.0	0	Jijin	Prov 2 – Keelung, Wanli
Keelung City	Qidu District	2.4	1.5	2	Madong System	Prov 62 – Ruifang, Dapu
New Taipei City	Xizhi	10.9	6.8	10	Xizhi System	Nat 1 – Xizhi, Wudu, Neihu
		12.2	7.6	12	Xintai 5th Road	Prov 5 – Xizhi, Nangang
		14.9	9.3	14	Nangang	Huandong Blvd., Nangang
Taipei City	Nangang	16.4	10.2	16	Nangang System	Nat 5 – Shiding, Yilan
	Nangang	16.7	10.4	16	Nanshen Rd.	Nanshen Rd.	Northbound entrance only
	Wenshan	20.7	12.9	20	Muzha	Nat 3a – Muzha, Taipei, Shenkeng
	Wenshan	25	16	Muzha Rest Stop (Northbound access only)
New Taipei City	Xindian	26.8	16.7	26	Xindian	Zhongxing Rd.- Xindian
	Xindian	31.1	19.3	31	Ankeng	Cty 110 – Ankeng, Xindian, Taipei
	Zhonghe	35.8	22.2	35	Zhonghe	Prov 64 – Zhonghe, Banqiao
	Tucheng	42.8	26.6	42	Tucheng	Prov 65 / Prov 3 – Tucheng, Banqiao
	Sanxia	50	31	50	Sanying	Cty 110 – Sanxia, Yingge
	Yingge	54.6	33.9	54	Yingge System	Nat 2 – Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, Bade
Taoyuan City	Daxi	62.7	39.0	62	Daxi	Prov 66 / Prov 3 – Cihu Mausoleum, Daxi, Zhongli, Pingzhen
Taoyuan City	Longtan	68.4	42.5	68	Longtan	Cty 113B – Longtan
Hsinchu County	Guanxi	76.8	47.7	Guanxi Service Area
	Guanxi	79.4	49.3	79	Guanxi	Cty 118 – Guanxi, Xinpu
	Qionglin	90.6	56.3	90	Zhulin	Cty 120 – Zhudong, Qionglin
	Baoshan	96.2	59.8	Baoshan Rest Area (Southbound access only)
		98.7	61.3	98	Baoshan	Sanfeng Rd., Daya Rd.- Baoshan, Hsinchu Science and Industrial Park
		100.5	62.4	100	Hsinchu System	Nat 1 – Hsinchu, Toufen
Hsinchu City	Xiangshan District	103.0	64.0	103	Jiadong	Cty 117 – Hsinchu
Hsinchu City	Xiangshan District	109.6	68.1	109	Xiangshan	Prov 1 / Prov 13 – Xiangshan, Toufen, Zhunan
Miaoli County	Zhunan	115.2	71.6	115	Xibin	Prov 61
	Zhunan	119.3	74.1	119	Zhunan	Prov 1F / Prov 61 – Zhunan
	Houlong	124.9	77.6	124	Dashan	Zaoqiao, Dashan
	Houlong	130.9	81.3	130	Houlong	Prov 6 – Houlong, Miaoli
	Xihu	134.3	83.5	Xihu Service Area
	Tongxiao	144.5	89.8	144	Tongxiao	Cty 128 – Tongluo, Tongxiao
	Yuanli	156.8	97.4	156	Yuanli	Cty 140 – Sanyi, Yuanli
Taichung City	Waipu	164.2	102.0	164	Waipu	Cty 132 – Waipu, Dajia
	Qingshui	169.4	105.3	169	Zhonggang System	Nat 4 – Shengang, Qingshui
	Qingshui	172.5	107.2	Qingshui Service Area
	Shalu	176.1	109.4	176	Shalu	Prov 10 – Daya, Shalu
	Longjing	182.7	113.5	182	Longjing	Cty 136 – Longjing, Taichung
Changhua County	Hemei	191.5	119.0	191	Hemei	Prov 61B / Cty 134a – Hemei, Shengang
	Changhua	196.8	122.3	196	Changhua System	Nat 1 – Taichung, Changhua
	Changhua	202.5	125.8	202	Kuaiguan	Prov 74 / Prov 74a – Taichung, Changhua
Taichung City	Wuri	207.6	129.0	207	Wuri	Cty 127 – Wuri
	Wufeng	209.3	130.1	209	Zhongtou	Prov 63 – Dali, Taichung
		211.5	131.4	211	Wufeng	Prov 74 / Prov 3 – Wufeng
		214.2	133.1	214	Wufeng System	Nat 6 – Guoxing, Puli
Nantou County	Caotun	217.5	135.1	217	Caotun	Prov 14 – Caotun, Fenyuan
		222.7	138.4	222	Zhongxing System	Prov 76 – Yuanlin
		224.9	139.7	224	Zhongxing	Prov 3 / Prov 14B – Nantou, Zhongxing New Village
	Nantou	228	142	228	Nantou	Prov 3a – Nantou, Zhongliao
	Nantou	231.3	143.7	Nantou Service Area
	Mingjian	237	147	237	Mingjian	Prov 3 – Mingjian, Jiji
	Zhushan	243.6	151.4	243	Zhushan	Prov 3 – Zhushan, Lugu
Yunlin County	Douliu	260	160	260	Douliu	Prov 3 – Douliu, Linnei
	Gukeng	269.3	167.3	269	Gukeng System	Prov 78 – Gukeng, Douliu
	Gukeng	276.8	172.0	Nantou Service Area
Chiayi County	Dalin	279.6	173.7	279	Meishan	Cty 162 – Meishan, Dalin
	Zhuqi	290	180	290	Zhuqi	Cty 159 / Cty 166 – Zhuqi, Minxiong, Chiayi
	Zhongpu	297.6	184.9	297	Zhongpu	Prov 18 – Zhongpu, Chiayi
	Shuishang	300.9	187.0	300	Shuishang System	Prov 82 – Shuishang
Tainan City	Baihe	311.6	193.6	311	Baihe	Cty 172 – Dongshan, Baihe
	Dongshan	319	198	Dongshan Service Area
	Liuying	322	200	322	Liuying	Cty 165 – City Road 110, Dongshan, Liuying
	Liujia	329.7	204.9	329	Wushantou	City Road 116, CR 165, Guantian, Liujia
	Guantian	334.9	208.1	334	Guantian System	Prov 84 – Guantian, Yujing, Danei
	Shanhua	340.2	211.4	340	Shanhua	Cty 178 – Shanhua, Shanshang
	Xinhua	346.9	215.6	346	Xinhua System	Nat 8 – Xinhua, Tainan
	Xinhua	350	220	Xinhua Rest Area
	Guanmiao	357	222	357	Guanmiao	Prov 86 / Prov 19a – Guanmiao, Guiren
	Guanmiao	363	226	Guanmiao Service Area
Kaohsiung City	Tianliao	369.5	229.6	369	Tianliao	Prov 28 – Tianliao, Alian
Kaohsiung City	Yanchao	383	238	383	Yanchao System	Nat 10 – Qishan, Kaohsiung
Pingtung County	Jiuru	391.6	243.3	391	Jiuru	Prov 3 – Jiuru, Ligang, Pingtung
	Changzhi	400.2	248.7	400	Changzhi	Prov 24 – Changzhi, Sandimen
	Linluo	407.3	253.1	407	Linluo	Prov 1 – Linluo, Neipu, Pingtung
	Zhutian	415.2	258.0	415	Zhutian System	Prov 88 – Zhutian, Kaohsiung
	Kanding	421.2	261.7	415	Kanding	Kanding	Southbound exit and northbound entrance
	Nanzhou	424.5	263.8	424	Nanzhou	Cty 187B – Nanzhou, Xinpi
	Linbian	430.5	267.5	430	Linbian	Prov 17 – Linbian, Donggang
	Linbian	431.5	268.1	431	Dapengwan End	Dapengwan National Scenic Area
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Major cities that have exit along the route

Intersections with other freeways and expressways

Provincial Highway No. 62 at Madong JCT. in Keelung City
Freeway No. 1 at Xizhi JCT. in New Taipei City
Provincial Highway No. 5 at Nangang IC. in New Taipei City
Freeway No. 5 at Nangang JCT. in Taipei City
Freeway No. 3A at Muzha IC. in Taipei City
Provincial Highway No. 64 at Zhonghe IC. in New Taipei City
Freeway No. 2 at Yingge JCT. in New Taipei City
Provincial Highway No. 66 at Daxi IC. in Taoyuan City
Freeway No. 1 at Hsinchu JCT. in Baoshan, Hsinchu
Provincial Highway No. 61 at Xibin IC. in Zhunan, Miaoli
Freeway No. 4 at Zhonggang JCT. in Taichung City
Freeway No. 1 at Changhua JCT. in Changhua City
Provincial Highway No. 74 at Kuaiguan IC. in Changhua City
Provincial Highway No. 63 at Zhongtou IC. in Taichung City
Freeway No. 6 at Zhongheng JCT. in Taichung City
Provincial Highway No. 76 at Zhongxing JCT. in Caotun, Nantou
Provincial Highway No. 78 at Gukeng JCT. in Gukeng, Yunlin
Provincial Highway No. 82 at Shuishang JCT. in Shuishang, Chiayi
Provincial Highway No. 84 at Guantian JCT. in Tainan City
Freeway No. 8 at Xinhua JCT. in Tainan City
Provincial Highway No. 86 at Guanmiao IC. in Tainan City
Freeway No. 10 at Yanchao JCT. in Kaohsiung City
Provincial Highway No. 88 at Zhutian JCT. in Zhutian, Pingtung

Lanes

The lanes in each direction are listed below.

4 lanes:
- Zhonghe IC. - Yingge JCT.
- Wufeng IC. - Nantou IC.
3 lanes:
- Jijin IC. - Zhonghe IC.
- Yingge JCT. - Wufeng IC.
- Nantou IC. - Jiuru IC.
2 lanes:
- Jiuru IC. - Linbian End

Spur routes

Taipei City - Freeway No. 3A

References

^ 北二高走山 4人罹難 (in Chinese). Central News Agency. 2010-04-28.
^ 國道3號3.1公里崩塌路段6月19日12時恢復主線雙向3車道通行 (in Chinese). Taiwan Area National Freeway Bureau. 2010-06-18.
^ "Freeway No. 3 – Distances of facilities (interchanges, service areas)". Taiwan Area National Freeway Bureau. Retrieved August 27, 2015.

24°5′50″N 120°36′0″E / 24.09722°N 120.60000°E / 24.09722; 120.60000

[1] 北二高走山 4人罹難 (in Chinese). Central News Agency. 2010-04-28.

[2] 國道3號3.1公里崩塌路段6月19日12時恢復主線雙向3車道通行 (in Chinese). Taiwan Area National Freeway Bureau. 2010-06-18.

[interchanges-3] "Freeway No. 3 – Distances of facilities (interchanges, service areas)". Taiwan Area National Freeway Bureau. Retrieved August 27, 2015.

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