TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) called for a quick return of Taiwan’s Taroko National Park to the world as he inspected reconstruction work Saturday (Sept. 28), almost six months after a devastating earthquake.

Taroko, one of the country’s most popular travel destinations, saw rockslides destroying roads and bridges during the magnitude 7.2 quake that struck the Hualien region on April 3. Government officials have mentioned 2031 as the expected date for completion of repairs.

On an inspection tour of road and railway reconstruction projects in the area Saturday, Cho said that work should move faster to “give Taroko back to the world,” per CNA. He also mentioned that aim could only be achieved if the necessary safety precautions were taken.

The main road through Taroko, the Central Cross-Island Highway, would have its slopes fortified in six places by the end of the year, the Highway Bureau said. Four tunnels, including the famous Tunnel of Nine Turns, will be completed during 2026.

Because of the works, the eastern end of the highway is still facing restrictions, with five periods during the day open for traffic, and complete closure at night. Cho reminded his audience of the safety issue, as 225 people had lost their lives during the building of the highway in the 1950s.