Traffic routes to and from Taoyuan Airport to switch to "north entry, north exit" starting August 8 — arrive 20 minutes earlier for flights

Reported by Lai Wen-xuan / Taipei

Taoyuan International Airport has launched the "WC Taxiway Relocation and Two-Way Conversion Project." To accommodate phased construction, traffic routes for entering and exiting the airport via national highways will be adjusted gradually starting August 8. Travel time during peak hours is expected to increase by 15 to 20 minutes, so travelers heading abroad should leave home a bit earlier.

▲ Traffic routes to and from Taoyuan Airport will be adjusted starting August 8. (Photo / Reporter Chen Ming-ren)

According to the plan, the first phase will begin in the early morning of August 8 and continue until May 2017. Part of the road leading from National Freeway No. 2 to the airport (Terminal South Road) will be closed for construction. Traffic will instead use the widened Terminal North Road. The speed limit will be reduced from the current 70 km/h to 50 km/h, while maintaining the existing three lanes in each direction. Taoyuan Airport Deputy General Manager Wen Yong-song said that during peak hours—such as between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m.—travel time is estimated to increase by 15 to 20 minutes. He advised outbound travelers to set off earlier and use public transportation when possible to avoid delays.

▲ Taoyuan International Airport launches the "WC Taxiway Relocation and Two-Way Conversion Project." (Photo / Provided by Taoyuan Airport)

The second phase of the project will run from July 2017 to May 2018. The section from the Terminal North Road underpass to the China Airlines campus will be closed for construction. Vehicles entering and exiting the airport will be rerouted to Terminal South Road, which will maintain three lanes in each direction. After the construction affecting road users is completed, the original traffic flow of "south entry (entering the airport from the national freeway via Terminal South Road), north exit (leaving the airport via Terminal North Road onto the national freeway)" will be restored.

The WC Taxiway Relocation and Two-Way Conversion Project is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2018. Upon completion, the 1,082-meter-long dual-lane taxiway will be able to accommodate two A-380 superjumbo jets passing each other simultaneously, significantly improving the operational efficiency of aircraft at Taoyuan Airport. The original site of the taxiway before relocation will serve as the construction site for the new Terminal 3 and multi-purpose building, supporting related follow-up development. Taoyuan Airport estimates that construction of Terminal 3 will be completed by 2020.

▲ %Xi Jing Bin Xian C Taxiway Relocation and Two-Way Conversion Project, adjustments to Taoyuan Airport’s external traffic routes. (Photo / Reporter Lai Wen-xuan)

Phase One
Time: 2016/08 – 2017/05
Underground construction on Terminal South Road from the China Airlines campus to just before the existing underpass, with Terminal North Road in the same section widened to six lanes and converted to two-way traffic.

Phase Two
Time: 2017/07 – 2018/05
Underground construction on Terminal North Road from just before the existing underpass to the China Airlines campus, with Terminal South Road in the same section widened to six lanes and converted to two-way traffic.