Tunnel for Taipei MRT Neihu Line is CompletedAfter more than three years of hard work, engineers and workers have succeeded in boring a 4 km tunnel under Taipei's Sungshan Airport and a ceremony has been held on 12th December, 2005 to mark a big step toward launching train services of the 14.8 km rapid transit line. The city's Department of Rapid Transit Systems said the shield-driven tunnel, that passes through the airport, the national expressway No. 1 and the Keelung River, has been an enormous challenge because construction could not affect airport operation.As a result of the extraordinary control of construction quality, the tunnel caused a mere 0.3 cm subsidence for the airport runway. The special explosion-proof structure of the tunnel further ensures airport safety.The Neihu Line was approved by the Cabinet on 7th August, 1993 as an elevated medium capacity transit system. Starting from the north end of the Mucha line, just north of Chungshan Junior High School station, the route runs elevated along Fuhsing North Road and turns right at Mintzu East Road heading for the Sungshan Airport. It then goes underground on the southern side of the airport.When completed, the route will end at the Nangang Software Park. Its total length will be approximately 14.8 km with 12 stations and one maintenance depot. The construction budget is over NTS6.6 billion. Click here and visit http://english.taipei.gov.tw/dorts/index.jsp 52/05-01/06.