The Suhua Highway improvement project is a model of environmental protection and service to public well-being, Premier Mao Chi-kuo said today at a ceremony marking the completion of the south-bound lane of the highway's Wuta Tunnel.
"During the construction process, I directed the Ministry of Transportation and Communications and the Directorate General of Highways (DGH) to pay attention not only to ensuring the quality and safety of the project but also to minimizing environmental impact and maintaining good relations with communities along the highway," said the premier.
In the past, government proposals to build a highway between Su-ao and Hualien were often met with opposition from environmentalists, Mao noted, and progress had been stalled by debates over environmental protection versus economic development. It was not until residents of eastern Taiwan began calling for a "safe road home" that a resolution to the nearly 20-year dispute was found and the government came to realize that it was more about social fairness than economic development.
The Suhua Highway is an important road connecting eastern and western Taiwan, but even today it remains in a 1970s-like condition with frequent landslides and falling stones creating traffic hazards, said Mao. Therefore, the government sought to balance social fairness and environmental protection and used the most stringent environmental standards to build a highway that gives local residents a safe way home.
To illustrate the spirit underlying the Suhua Highway improvement project, the premier said the project was the first in Taiwan to adopt a "carbon footprint" management system. From construction materials and engineering methods to environmental impact, all greenhouse gases emitted during the process were measured and tracked. Only the United Kingdom and a few other countries have adopted this approach, but the premier hopes it can be applied more widely in Taiwan.
As another example, Mao said the government asked the state-owned China Steel Corp. to transport ore for this project by rail rather than by truck. This has not only reduced traffic on the Suhua Highway by 70 percent and lowered air pollution, but also cut carbon emission and improved traffic safety during implementation of the project.
With tunnels accounting for 63 percent of the highway, the project faces a high degree of risk, difficulty and unpredictability, the premier pointed out. The area's location at the junction of tectonic plates also adds great geological complexity to the project, making it imperative to put safety and quality at the top of the priority list. Hence, the premier hopes the public will be patient if certain sections of the highway take longer to complete due to safety concerns.
Premier Mao gave thanks to the participating agencies and individuals for their contribution to the improvement project. He also expressed special gratitude to the DGH, the Suhua Improvement Engineering Office and all construction workers for their tireless efforts.
After the ceremony, Premier Mao visited the Atayal aborigines of Wuta village to join tribal elders for a blessing ritual. During the highway project, the construction team learned to closely cooperate and win the support of local residents, and their relationship with Wuta village became an encouraging example for the whole project.
Premier Mao said the highway after its completion will provide a more convenient and safer road to and from Wuta village. The experiences and memories shared during the construction will also be passed on for the future.
The premier said he is honored to witness the tunnel's completion and join the tribal elders as they thank the deities for helping construction crews overcome difficulties. Mao hopes the entire project can be completed as soon as possible to allow local communities to truly enjoy the highway's benefits.