National Highway No. 3 (Taiwan)
Encyclopedia
National Highway No. 3 is the second North-South freeway in Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...

. 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 junction interchanges, 11 toll stations, and 7 service areas en route. Besides the 55 interchanges of servicing usage, there are also some interchanges reserved for governmental usage.

Naming

Freeways in Taiwan are officially coded "National Highways" with their respective numbers. By this principle, Freeway No. 3 is coded National Highway 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.

History

The original plan was only intended to build a second freeway between Taipei
Taipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...

 and Hsinchu
Hsinchu
Hsinchu City is a city in northern Taiwan. Hsinchu is popularly nicknamed "The Windy City" for its windy climate.Hsinchu City is administered as a special municipality within Taiwan . The city is bordered by Hsinchu County to the north and east, Miaoli County to the south, and the Taiwan Strait...

. 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 of 1996, Xizhi SIC - Muzha IC was opened. The final phrase 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
Xizhi
Xizhi is a district in New Taipei City in northern Republic of China .In the past, the Xizhi area was the Kypanas locality of the Ketagalan Taiwanese aboriginals. The old name in Chinese refers to the fact that the tide from the Keelung River stops at Xizhi and goes back to the sea...

, large amount of dirt buried both directions of the freeway. Four cars were buried under the debris, killing four people. 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.

Major cities that have exit along the route

  • Keelung City
  • New Taipei City
  • Taipei City
  • Hsinchu City
  • Changhua City
    Changhua City
    Changhua City is the county seat of Changhua County in Taiwan. For many centuries the site was home to a settlement of Babuza people, a coastal tribe of Taiwanese aborigines. The name of the city is derived from the aboriginal word Poasoa .Changhua is best known for its landmark statue of the Buddha...

  • Nantou City
    Nantou City
    Nantou City is located in the northwest of Nantou County, Taiwan, Republic of China. It lies between the Bagua Mountains and the Maoluo River and is the seat of Nantou County. Freeway No. 3 serves Nantou City...

  • Douliu City

Intersections with other freeways and expressways

  • Provincial Highway No. 62
    Provincial Highway No. 62 (Taiwan)
    Provincial Highway No. 62 is an expressway that begins in the Anle District of Keelung City, and ends in Ruifang District, New Taipei. It has Anle Terminal, Madong SIC., Qidu One IC., Qidu Two IC. , Dahua SIC. , Nuannuan IC., Ruifang IC., and Ruibin Terminal.-Intersections with other Freeways and...

     at Madong JCT. in Keelung City
  • National Highway No. 1
    National Highway No. 1 (Taiwan)
    National Highway No. 1 is the first freeway in Taiwan. It begins in Keelung City at the intersection of Ziao 2nd Road and Jhong 4th Road and ends in Kaohsiung City at the intersection of Jhongshan 4th Road and Yugang Road, giving it a total length of 372.8 km...

     at Xizhi JCT. in New Taipei City
  • Provincial Highway No. 5
    Provincial Highway No. 5 (Taiwan)
    Provincial Highway No. 5 is a 28.7 km-long provincial Taiwanese highway that connects Taipei and its nearest port Keelung. Before the expressway system was built, this was the primary route for goods transportation. The road is a major avenue in Taipei city, and is the north-south divide for...

     at Nangang IC. in New Taipei City
  • National Highway No. 5
    National Highway No. 5 (Taiwan)
    National Highway No. 5 is a freeway, which begins in Taipei City at Nangang JCT. on National Highway No. 3 and ends in Su-ao, Yilan on Masai Road...

     at Nangang JCT. in Taipei City
  • National Highway No. 3A
    National Highway No. 3A (Taiwan)
    National Highway No. 3A is a spur of National Highway No. 3 to downtown Taipei City. It begins in Taipei City at the intersection of Xinhai Road and Fanglan Road and ends in Shenkeng, New Taipei City on the County Highway No...

     at Muzha IC. in Taipei City
  • Provincial Highway No. 64
    Provincial Highway No. 64 (Taiwan)
    Provincial Highway No. 64 is an expressway, which begins in the Port of Taipei in Bali and ends in front of Xiulang Bridge in Zhonghe.-Districts of New Taipei City Along the Route:*Bali*Wugu*Sanchong*Banqiao*Yonghe*Zhonghe*Xindian...

     at Zhonghe IC. in New Taipei City
  • National Highway No. 2
    National Highway No. 2 (Taiwan)
    National Highway No. 2 is a freeway, which begins in Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport in Dayuan, Taoyuan and ends in Yingge at the junction with National Highway No. 3.-Junction list:*National Highway No. 1 at Airport JCT. in Luzhu, Taoyuan...

     at Yingge JCT. in New Taipei City
  • Provincial Highway No. 66
    Provincial Highway No. 66 (Taiwan)
    Provincial Highway No. 66 is an expressway, which begins in Guanyin, Taoyuan on the Provincial Highway No. 15 and ends in Daxi, Taoyuan on the County Highway No. 112A.-Major Cities Along the Route:*Yangmei, Taoyuan*Pingzhen City*Zhongli City*Daxi, Taoyuan...

     at Daxi IC. in Daxi, Taoyuan
  • National Highway No. 1
    National Highway No. 1 (Taiwan)
    National Highway No. 1 is the first freeway in Taiwan. It begins in Keelung City at the intersection of Ziao 2nd Road and Jhong 4th Road and ends in Kaohsiung City at the intersection of Jhongshan 4th Road and Yugang Road, giving it a total length of 372.8 km...

     at Hsinchu JCT. in Baoshan, Hsinchu
  • Provincial Highway No. 61
    Provincial Highway No. 61 (Taiwan)
    Provincial Highway No. 61 is usually known as West Coast Expressway . There are several sections open for the traffic. Others are still under construction.-Length:As of December 2008, the following sections have been completed:...

     at Xibin IC. in Zhunan, Miaoli
  • National Highway No. 4
    National Highway No. 4 (Taiwan)
    National Highway No. 4 is a freeway, which begins in Qingshui, Taichung on the Provincial Highway No. 17. and ends in Fengyuan District on the Provincial Highway No. 3.-Intersections with other freeways and expressways:...

     at Zhonggang JCT. in Taichung City
  • Freeway No. 1 at Changhua JCT. in Changhua City
    Changhua City
    Changhua City is the county seat of Changhua County in Taiwan. For many centuries the site was home to a settlement of Babuza people, a coastal tribe of Taiwanese aborigines. The name of the city is derived from the aboriginal word Poasoa .Changhua is best known for its landmark statue of the Buddha...

  • Provincial Highway No. 74
    Provincial Highway No. 74 (Taiwan)
    Provincial Highway No. 74 is an expressway, which begins in Changhua City on Zhangnan Road of and ends in Taichung City at the intersection of Songzhu Road and Huazhong Road. It is commonly known as Zhongzhang Expressway.-Intersections with other Freeways and Expressways:*National Highway No....

     at Kuaiguan IC. in Changhua City
    Changhua City
    Changhua City is the county seat of Changhua County in Taiwan. For many centuries the site was home to a settlement of Babuza people, a coastal tribe of Taiwanese aborigines. The name of the city is derived from the aboriginal word Poasoa .Changhua is best known for its landmark statue of the Buddha...

  • Provincial Highway No. 63
    Provincial Highway No. 63 (Taiwan)
    Provincial Highway No. 63 is an expressway, which begins in Taichung City at the intersection of Guoguang Road and Zhongming South Road and ends in Caotun, Nantou on Bixing Road . It is commonly known as Zhongtou Expressway.-Length:The total length of the highway is 18.9 km...

     at Zhongtou IC. in Taichung City
  • National Highway No. 6
    National Highway No. 6 (Taiwan)
    National Highway No. 6 is a freeway between Wufeng, Taichung and Puli, Nantou, and all of the main line was already open to traffic on March 21, 2009...

     at Zhongheng JCT. in Taichung City
  • Provincial Highway No. 76
    Provincial Highway No. 76 (Taiwan)
    Provincial Highway No. 76 is an expressway, which begins in the border of Puyan, Changhua and Fuxing, Changhua on Jhangshuei Road and ends in Caotun, Nantou on ....

     at Zhongxing JCT. in Caotun, Nantou
    Caotun, Nantou
    Caotun is an urban township in the northwest of Nantou County, neighboring Changhua County and Taichung City.-External links:*...

  • Provincial Highway No. 78
    Provincial Highway No. 78 (Taiwan)
    Provincial Highway No. 78 begins in Taixi, Yunlin, Taiwan, on Zhonghua Road and ends in Gukeng, Yunlin on National Highway No. 3.-Intersections with other Freeways and Expressways:...

     at Gukeng JCT. in Gukeng, Yunlin
    Gukeng, Yunlin
    Gukeng is a rural township in eastern Yunlin County, Taiwan. It is famous for agricultural produce, most notably arabica coffee.* Area: 116.61 km²* Population: 35,525 people...

  • Provincial Highway No. 82
    Provincial Highway No. 82 (Taiwan)
    Provincial Highway No. 82 is an expressway, which begins in Puzi City on Xuefu Road and ends in Shuishang, Chiayi on National Highway No. 3.-Intersections with other Freeways and Expressways:*National Highway No. 1 at Chiayi SIC. in Shuishang, Chiayi...

     at Shuishang JCT. in Shuishang, Chiayi
    Shuishang, Chiayi
    Shuishang is a rural township in Chiayi County, Taiwan. It has a population total of 52,638 and an area of 69.1198 square kilometres.-External links:*...

  • Provincial Highway No. 84
    Provincial Highway No. 84 (Taiwan)
    Provincial Highway No. 84 is an expressway, which begins in Guantian, Tainan on the Provincial Highway No. 1 and ends in Yujing, Tainan on Jhongshan Road .-Intersections with other Freeways and Expressways:...

     at Guantian JCT. in Tainan City
  • National Highway No. 8
    National Highway No. 8 (Taiwan)
    National Highway No. 8 is a freeway, which begins in downtown Tainan City and ends in Xinhua, Tainan on the Provincial Highway No. 20.-Intersections with other freeways and expressways:*National Highway No. 1 at Tainan SIC. in Xinshi, Tainan...

     at Xinhua JCT. in Tainan City
  • Provincial Highway No. 86
    Provincial Highway No. 86 (Taiwan)
    Provincial Highway No. 86 is an expressway, which begins in Rende, Tainan on Erren Road and ends in Guanmiao, Tainan on National Highway No. 3.-Intersections with other Freeways and Expressways:...

     at Guanmiao IC. in Tainan City
  • National Highway No. 10
    National Highway No. 10 (Taiwan)
    National Highway No. 10, of the Republic of China, is a freeway, which begins in downtown Kaohsiung City at the intersection of Dajhong Road and Wunzih Road and ends in Qishan on the Provincial Highway No. 3.-Intersections with other freeways and expressways:...

     at Yanchao JCT. in Kaohsiung City
  • Provincial Highway No. 88
    Provincial Highway No. 88 (Taiwan)
    Provincial Highway No. 88 is an expressway, which begins in Fengshan City on National Highway No. 1 and ends in Zhutian, Pingtung on Yong-an Road.-Intersections with other Freeways and Expressways:*National Highway No. 1 at Wujia SIC. in Fengshan District...

     at Zhutian JCT. in Zhutian, Pingtung
    Zhutian, Pingtung
    Jhutian Township is a rural township in Pingtung County, Taiwan. Jhutian is famous for its agricultural productions and Jhutian train station.*Population: 18,451 *Area: 29.0732 *Main ethic group: Hakka...


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
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