Asia-Pacific Sustainability Action Awards-Sustainability Action Awards SDG11:Silver
Central Region Branch Office, Highway Bureau, MOTC
Sustainable Roadscape: Harmonizing Highways from Mountain and Sea in Taichung.
Managing 9 highways across 14 Taichung districts, the Taichung Branch oversees Provincial Highway 3 and 61. These north-south axes link mountain towns and coastal wetlands, driving transport, economy, and tourism. Highways have evolved into eco-friendly, resilient infrastructure. Since 2021, the Branch has pursued "Site-Specific" to harmonize roads with nature. Through landscape optimization and pedestrian upgrades, it paves the way toward SDG 11. Using a "Lightweight, Clear, Integrated" approach, the Branch uses low-maintenance native plants for green belts. Provincial Highway 61 tests coastal plants for carbon sinks and uses gravel for dust control, while Provincial Highway 3 optimizes urban median greenery and tree management. For pedestrians, school-commuting zones, safety refuges, and intersection lanes were upgraded to cut delays. To add value, Da'an Service Area on Provincial Highway 61 boosts tourism via local industries, and Provincial Highway 3 partners with the city on bike corridors, creating safe, scenic paths. Blending highways with nature and culture drives urban growth and benefits sustainable cities and communities.