Transport Minister Wang Guo-tsai says work is underway to provide a safe
roadway connecting the east coast.

The minister says residents in the region need a safe way to get home after
the area suffered heavy earthquake damage earlier this month, and preliminary
route surveys are underway for the extension fo National Freeway 6 to Hualien
and an East Coast Expressway.

Speaking at the Legislative Yuan today, Wang says the project has faced
difficulties in the past, with concerns over fault lines and environmental
impact.

But the minister says now a preliminiary route survey and geological survey
were launched last year, and a feasibility study is scheduled to begin next
year.

The Ministry says the extention of the highway from Puli eastward to Hualien
has a preliminary planned route of approximately 90 kilometers, with 18
tunnels.

And the Directorate General of Highways says the revived East Coast
Expressway will start from Chongde in Hualien and connect to the Suhua
Expressway, with a total length of 174 kilometers.

(NS)