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Following more than two years of reconstruction, Shoucheng Bridge in Puli Township was successfully completed at the end of April this year. The County Government hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 27 to mark its official opening to traffic. Deputy County Mayor Wang Rui-De led distinguished guests in a traditional prayer and blessing ritual before cutting the ribbon, after which they joined residents in a celebratory inaugural walk across the newly completed bridge.

Located at 2K+992 on County Route 78, Shoucheng Bridge spans the Mei River and serves as a vital transportation link connecting Wugong, Danan, and Niumian villages. It plays an important role in daily commuting and agricultural transport. During Typhoon Khanun in August 2023, heavy rainfall and surging river currents washed out the P3 pier foundation and caused the bridge deck to settle, forcing its closure. The County Government quickly built a temporary riverbed detour bridge to maintain access while securing post-disaster reconstruction funding to rebuild the structure. 

The ceremony was attended by Fu Li-Hsiang, Director of the Central Region Branch Office of the Highway Bureau, MOTC, County Councilors Wu Kuo-Chang, Lin Fang-Yu, Chen I-Chun, Huang Shih-Fang, Su Yu-Cheng, Township Council Chairman Lin Chuan-Yi, as well as several township council members and village representatives. During the event, Director Chang Hong-yue of the County Government's Public Works Department presented a project briefing accompanied by a documentary chronicling the post-disaster reconstruction process. The video captured the reality of the project, highlighting both the perseverance of the construction crews and the significant challenges involved in recovering from a natural disaster.

Deputy County Mayor Wang noted that Shoucheng Bridge had previously been rebuilt following the 1999 Jiji earthquake and reopened in 2003. However, it was damaged again and closed in 2023 due to a typhoon. To restore local traffic as quickly as possible and enhance the bridge’s disaster resilience, the County Government successfully secured NT$194.5 million in disaster relief and reconstruction funding from the Public Construction Commission of the Executive Yuan. While construction of the permanent structure was underway, a temporary riverbed detour was opened to maintain local access. Despite the detour being swept away twice by subsequent typhoons, the County Government ultimately invested a total of NT$17.8 million to construct and maintain temporary riverbed roads and detour bridges.

Deputy County Mayor Wang stated that the new Shoucheng Bridge adopts a steel-structure design incorporating an elegant arch form and cultural elements inspired by traditional Atayal red motifs. The bridge measures approximately 167 meters in length and 11 meters in width and features two-way traffic lanes with a pedestrian walkway on one side. The number of piers was reduced from three to two to minimize flood impact, while deep foundations were adopted to strengthen scour resistance and improve overall structural safety. 

The County Government’s Public Works Department emphasized that the successful completion and opening of Shoucheng Bridge not only symbolizes the achievement of post-disaster reconstruction but also reflects the County Government’s commitment to improving transportation infrastructure and disaster resilience. Moving forward, the government will continue advancing public infrastructure projects to safeguard residents’ lives and property while ensuring safe, seamless, and convenient transportation.