To celebrate completion of the Cishan Bridge and the river renovation project, that cost over NT$560 million and was completed 5 months ahead of schedule, and in order to promote industrial, transportation and tourism recovery, today (the 15th) President Ma Ying-jeou led Minister Mao Chi-Kuo of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, Minister without Portfolio Ovid Tseng, CEO Lin Join-sane and Deputy CEO Chern Jenn-Chuan of Reconstruction Council to attend the completion ceremony of the bridge, to celebrate this meaningful indicator of reconstruction ahead of schedule.

Typhoon Morakot resulted in 1 / 3 of Cishan suffering serious flood disaster loss, and because of damage to the bridge, external traffic remains very inconvenient. To encourage the locals, the Executive Yuan resolved to infuse NT$2.373 billion in total reconstruction in the Cishan-Meinong areas, for Cishan bridge reconstruction, road rehabilitation, rebuilding of embankment, dredging and set up of water gates. Not only does the project bring positive effects to people’s lives in the long run by resolving the flooding problems, they also help to complete the coordination of the expropriation Cishan River region’s 13.4 hectares of private land, solving the problem of flooding that worry the residents in the long run. The Water Resources Agency also carried out a full mobilization to clear the floodplain, as well as the construction of reinforced embankments and pumping stations, etc. This effectively reduced the river water level; and compared with 4 previous typhoons including Fanapi and Maggie, flooding in the Cishan area was avoided.

The new bridge connects the old Cishan bridge and the Qi Wei bridge which were battered during typhoon Morakot and had to be demolished. Under the supervision and efforts of the Directorate General of Highways of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, the bridge was completed 5 months ahead of schedule, saving nearly NT$0.1 billion in social costs from detouring. It included a “spinal bridge” that is 535 meters long, which is both a landmark and a bridge that is resistant to disaster. The central main bridge back is designed with banana and bamboo basket imagery in mind. The night view is beautiful and worth travelling across the country to visit.

In his speech President Ma said that the reconstruction of this important project is the result of cooperation between the Ministry of Communications and the Ministry of Economic Affairs. He in particular praised Cishan bridge’s "Bridge Creek cohabitation " as a new model, and also hopes this is a durable bridge that will last for a long time.

Cishan also formally announced the opening of the bridge completed in Cishan-Meinong, moving the region away from the shadow of Morakot. The Cishan-Meinong area, long known for its tourism industry, cultural heritage, agricultural products, and so on, will be revitalized, and a new economy will be resurgent.