National freeway 5 is a freeway in Taiwan, which begins in Taipei City at Nangang Junction on National freeway 3 and ends in Su-ao, Yilan on Masai Road. Although it was called the Beiyi Freeway (Chinese abbreviation for Taipei to Yilan) prior to its final completion in June 2006, the official name is the Chiang Wei-shui Memorial Freeway, after the early twentieth century Taiwanese political activist and Yilan native Chiang Wei-shui.[1]
Only a toll station named and located in Toucheng, Yilan County is now active. Other toll stations on interchanges are not working until fare changed to based on mileages.
As of July 2008, Toucheng Toll Station has started ETC service.
Extension to Hualien City is planned, but the construction is suspended due to environmental concerns.
Pinglin IC located in Taipei water preservation area, is temporarily opened before the Hsuehshan Tunnel completed. It will not open to public due to environmental protection issues. The water on the freeway is collected by the water processing plant to prevent polluting the preservation area.
Su-Hua Freeway
Su-Hua Freeway (蘇花高速公路) is a future freeway project executed by Taiwan Area National Expressway Engineering Bureau. It will be constructed between Su-ao, Yilan and Ji-an, Hualien. It may cost over 100 billion New Taiwan dollars to build. Due to environmental protection issues, this project is temporarily suspended. The next item will be Hua-dong Freeway and South Link Freeway.
Realignment of Su-Hua Highway
In 2008, a realignment of the Su-Hua Highway was suggested, which was named "Suhuati." It would be between Nan-ao, Yilan and Heping, Hualien, and would cost approximately NT$30 billion to build.
In 2010, the project was renamed to Suhuagai. The project was intended to improve dangerous sections between Suao and Chongde; the MOTC said it will start construction in 2011.[1]
