The Snow Mountain Tunnel Construction Miracle Member List: B09315111 Stefanie B09315105 Evan B09315107 Kelly B09315113 Wade B09315117 Amanda B09315119 Lalia

1.Introduction The Hsuehshan Tunnel or "Snow Mountain" tunnel, is the longest tunnel in Taiwan, located on the Taipei-Ilan Expressway ( Taiwan National Highway No. 5 ). The road connects the city of Taipei to the northeastern county of I-lan, cutting down the journey time from two hours to just half an hour. One of the key aims of constructing the tunnel was to connect the western coast of Taiwan, where 95% of the population live, to the eastern coast of the island and in doing so tackle the unbalanced development on the island.

The Hsuehshan Tunnel or "Snow Mountain" tunnel, is the longest tunnel in Taiwan, located on the Taipei-Ilan Expressway ( Taiwan National Highway No. 5 ). The road connects the city of Taipei to the northeastern county of I-lan, cutting down the journey time from two hours to just half an hour. One of the key aims of constructing the tunnel was to connect the western coast of Taiwan, where 95% of the population live, to the eastern coast of the island and in doing so tackle the unbalanced development on the island.

2.History and Information *History 1) Engineers encountered geological problems which caused several delays. 2) Fractured rock and massive inflows of water. 3) One of the two TBMs( Tunnel Boring Machine; It costs one billion NT dollars for each machine) was buried by a ground collapse. 4) Six major faults, numerous fracture zones, and high-pressure groundwater. 5) 25 lives were lost during 15 years of construction

*History

1) Engineers encountered geological problems which caused several delays.

2) Fractured rock and massive inflows of water.

3) One of the two TBMs( Tunnel Boring Machine; It costs one billion NT dollars for each machine) was buried by a ground collapse.

4) Six major faults, numerous fracture zones, and high-pressure groundwater.

5) 25 lives were lost during 15 years of construction

*Information 1)Tunnel length Main Tunnel-> E:12917m W: 12942m Pilot Tunnel-> 12941m 2)Design speed- > 70km/h 3)Location -> Pinglin, Taipei County and Toucheng, Ilan County 4)Total cost- > NT$ 18.5 billion 5)Date of starting construction- > Pilot Tunnel: July 1991 Main Tunnels: July 23, 1993 6)Date of breakthrough- > Eastbound tunnel: September 2004 Westbound tunnel: April 2004 Pilot tunnel: October 2003 7)Date of opening- > June 16, 2006

*Information

1)Tunnel length

Main Tunnel-> E:12917m W: 12942m

Pilot Tunnel-> 12941m

2)Design speed- > 70km/h

3)Location -> Pinglin, Taipei County and Toucheng, Ilan County

4)Total cost- > NT$ 18.5 billion

5)Date of starting construction- > Pilot Tunnel: July 1991

Main Tunnels: July 23, 1993

6)Date of breakthrough- > Eastbound tunnel: September 2004

Westbound tunnel: April 2004

Pilot tunnel: October 2003

7)Date of opening- > June 16, 2006

The traffic light in the Snow Mountain Tunnel. A bird’s-eye view of the main TBMs, which used to bore the main tunnels.

One of the small TBMs. It used to bore the pilot tunnel.

The safety devices in the tunnel . A bird’s-eye view of the entrance.

Cars in the tunnel. Actually, it’s a traffic jam! Another traffic jam~

3.Effects and Significance 1) The 31km Taipei-ilan Freeway will link the nation's prosperous western half with the less developed eastern half. 2) The Taipei-Ilan Freeway will balance regional developments and furnish people with a convenient and fast means of transportation. 3) More than 30,000 cars a day are expected to use the tunnel, with the figure expected to rise sharply on weekends.

1) The 31km Taipei-ilan Freeway will link the nation's prosperous western half with the less developed eastern half.

2) The Taipei-Ilan Freeway will balance regional developments and furnish people with a convenient and fast means of transportation.

3) More than 30,000 cars a day are expected to use the tunnel, with the figure expected to rise sharply on weekends.

4.Reflection As a local resident of I-lan, what’s your thought about the Snow Mountain Tunnel?

As a local resident of I-lan, what’s your thought about the Snow Mountain Tunnel?

5.Video of the tunnel: Discovery Show Time