The tragedy at Suhua Highway also angered residents in Hualien, who have been asking the government in vain over the last decade for a safer thoroughfare. Now the authorities have finally decided to speed up the highway improvement project, which is expected to be completed in 2016.

The Suhua Highway in 1989 originally saw tunnels maintaining their original style with the opening small and low and only one-way traffic on the road which was barely covered with asphalt.

There were weeds all around and many were afraid of the road due to natural cliffs and beautiful sea views.

In 1990, the Suhua Highway began a widening project as the road became open to two-way traffic.

After widening, one could drive all the way overlooking the Pacific Ocean with cliffs and mountains as the road became world-famous for its landscape.

However, over-development led the Suhua Highway to collapse after heavy rains due to Typhoon Megie as the road was interrupted by large faults which now require urgent reconstruction work.

This Ilan to Hualien Taiwan Provincial Route 9, Suhua Highway, is the only route north.

Typhoon Megie struck at the 107-116 km marker from Suao to Dongao.

Now the government hopes to speed up reconstruction and will divide it into 3 subsections.

To avoid the recurrence of future tragedies, President Ma personally promised that work on the Suhua Highway would begin before the end of the year with an environmental impact assessment review set for November 1st, and if all goes well, the highway will be reopened in 2016.

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