TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Highway Bureau will launch improvement projects on three main sections of Suhua Highway by 2028 to enhance safety and repair damage caused by earthquakes and severe weather.

The highway, linking Yilan and Hualien along the eastern side of the Central Mountain Range, has narrow cliffside sections that have led to partial closures. Some areas also sit on soft soil and are vulnerable to erosion from wind and rain, raising the risk of accidents and landslides.

At a Thursday press conference, Li Tsung-jen (李宗仁), project director at the bureau, said the Cabinet approved the Suhua Highway renovation in August 2025, with a NT$105.6 billion (US$3.35 billion) budget. The highway is expected to reopen by 2032, per CNA.

The bureau said the projects will straighten certain curved sections of the highway and reinforce the roadbed along the route.

The 9.3-km section between Suao and Nanao Township, which includes tunnels, bridges, and embankments, is set to begin construction by the end of this year. Another 5.5-km elevated section in Hualien’s Xiulin Township will be built in cooperation with Taiwan Cement, with construction expected to start next year, the bureau said.

The bureau added that the 15.1-km southern Xiulin Township section is the most unstable stretch of the highway. Severely damaged by the April 2024 earthquake, the section will require additional tunnels to bypass areas at high risk of landslides.

The bureau said the construction will help reduce sharp curves and steep slopes while improving slope protection and drainage. The design is expected to shorten travel time and lower the risk of landslides during heavy rain.

The bureau has begun geological surveys for the sections scheduled for renovation, and the project team will adjust some tunnel entrances and emergency escape routes. The highway will also include around four rest areas.

However, the projects have raised concerns. Some environmental groups said they could damage the soil and suggested upgrading certain sections instead of adding new construction. They also warned that some tunnels could affect riverbeds and increase flooding risks.

Taiwan Cement said that some planned elevated bridges could affect nearby power plants and its cement operations. The company added that the area near its facility rarely experiences landslides, and it opposes the improvement project there.