The International Road Federation (IRF) announced its winners of the prestigious 2020 Global Road Achievement Awards (GRAA) at a virtual award ceremony event held last November 20, 2020. Taiwan’s Directorate General of Highways (DGH) teamed up with the project’s two primary consultants, CECI and Sinotech, in submitting an application for this unique one of a kind competition event. This is the second time CECI has been recognized for winning this special award after the “Wuyang Viaduct on National Freeway No. 1” was also selected as the Design Category winner in 2015.
The IRF views the GRAA as an exciting way for road industry builders and engineers to showcase their innovative technologies and creative solutions in building better sustainable roads as well as sharing each other’s success stories. The Suhua Highway Improvement Project presented tremendous challenges due to its fragile environment and the rugged terrain along its scenic 53km long route connecting northern and eastern Taiwan. The project features numerous long tunnels and bridges including a magnificent 12.6 km long tunnel system interlinked by unique twin tube 60m long cylindrical frame shaped bridges.
CECI began the feasibility study, planning and design of priority sections for making improvements to the Suhua Highway back in early 2009 and subsequently carried out construction supervision services for the 20 KM long Nanao to Heping section. Since its opening last January 2020, the highway has finally given travelers a safe, speedy and reliable way back home or to its other destinations.
CECI’s delegation led by Chairman Dr. Shih, Yi-Fang was on hand to take part in the award ceremony together with the Director General of the Directorate General of Highways, Cheng-Chang Hsu who professed “It is a profound honor to be awarded the IRF 2020 GRAA in Design for the Directorate General of Highways, CECI and Sinotech. We are very grateful to be recognized globally and will keep working together with IRF to design and construct more sustainable, resilient and safer roadways in Taiwan”.
