機車族禁行抗議
The first section of the improved Suhua Highway opened Monday despite a protest among motorcyclists, who have been banned from using the new high way.
蘇花改公路第一階段於週一通車，儘管被禁止通行的機車族也到場抗議。
despite(prep.)儘管;不管=in spite of~ban(v.)禁止=prohibitbe banned from~被禁止做...
The new stretch from Yilan County’s Suao to Hualien County’s Dongao is 9.7 kilometers long.
剛通車的蘇花改蘇澳到東澳路段全長9.7公里。
stretch(n.)路段=section
Driving from one end to the other on the improved section takes only 10 to 12 minutes, while doing so on the old highway took around 30 minutes, according to the Ministry of Transportation and Communications.
交通部指出，未來民眾開車走蘇花改蘇澳到東澳估計只要10至12分鐘，走原本的蘇花公路則需要30分鐘左右。
while(conj.)而;然而
But traffic jams are likely to occur on the newly opened section, especially during the Lunar New Year holiday, Minister of Transportation and Communications Hochen Tan said.
但交通部長賀陳旦表示，特別是農曆新年假期間，有可能發生交通壅塞。
traffic jam塞車
Traffic volume will far exceed its capacity, so congestion is inevitable, he added.
他補充道，車流量將遠超過道路容量，所以塞車是無法避免的。
volume(n.)容量;流量traffic volume車流量exceed(v.)超過capacity(n.)容納量congestion (n.)擁擠、壅塞
Meanwhile, the opening of the new section triggered backlash among motorcyclists in downtown Suao, who demanded equal access to the highway as drivers of small vehicles.
同時，蘇花改新路段通車也引發蘇澳當地機車族的反彈，他們要求和小客車駕駛一樣，可以行駛蘇花改新的路段。
trigger(v.)引發=sparkbacklash(n.)強烈反彈、強烈反對=strong oppositionaccess to~使用…的權利或機會
According to the Directorate General of Highways, due to poor air circulation, noise and high temperatures in the tunnel and the fact that the tunnel is 3 kilometers in length, scooters are not allowed to enter the new stretch of the highway for safety concerns.
公路總局表示，因為隧道內的空氣品質、噪音與高溫，加上隧道全長3公里，基於安全考量，新路段不開放機車通行。
due to~因為=because of~=owing to~circulation(n.)循環、流通
Under current regulations, only small vehicles are allowed on the new section.
目前規定只有小客車可以通行新路段。
regulation(n.)規定
The full Suhua Highway overhaul project will be completed by the end of 2019.
蘇花公路改善計畫預計108年底前全面通車。
overhaul(n.)(v.)徹底整修;改造;改進
The NT$49.2 billion (US$1.5 billion) project involves the construction of tunnels and bridges to bypass the three most dangerous sections — from Suao to Dongao, from Nanao in Yilan County to Heping in Hualien County, and from Hezhong to Daqingshui, also in Hualien County.
該計畫總花費492億元，興建隧道和橋樑繞過三個最危險的路段，分別是蘇澳至東澳、宜蘭縣南澳至花蓮縣和平，花蓮縣和中至大清水三個路段。
bypass(v.)繞過
The improved highway is to be 38.8km long when all three sections are complete.
蘇花改三個路段完工後，全長預計38.8公里。
By then, the travel time between Yilan and Hualien, which now takes about 2.5 hours, will be reduced to 80 minutes.
屆時，從宜蘭到花蓮開車只要80分鐘，現在則需約2個半小時。