Partial Opening | Controlled Construction | Nighttime Road Closures
Eastern Section of Provincial Highway 8 (Guanyuan to Taroko Entrance)
Traffic Control Measures for May 2025
Partial Opening | Controlled Construction | Nighttime Road Closures
Eastern Section of Provincial Highway 8 (Guanyuan to Taroko Entrance)
Traffic Control Measures for May2025
As the first anniversary of the May3 Earthquake approaches, the Eastern Region Branch of the Directorate General of Highways (DGH) and the Taroko Maintenance Section have been actively engaged in post-disaster recovery and reconstruction along Provincial Highway 8. The highway has suffered compounded damages from Typhoon Gaemi (July 24), Typhoon Krathon (September 20), and Typhoon Kong-rey (October 30), making the repair process even more challenging.
To strengthen the highway’s disaster resilience and ensure traffic safety, the Taroko Maintenance Section invited local residents from the Tianxiang area, business operators, and relevant agencies to a coordination meeting by the end of each month. A consensus was reached to maintain the same traffic control measures as those implemented in May for the Guanyuan to Taroko Entrance section (114.6km to 184.5km) during April, including the Dragon Boat Festival holiday.
Traffic Control Schedule for May1 to 30, 2025 (Applicable to both weekdays and holidays):
Section 1: Guanyuan to Tianxiang (114.6km–167.7km)
Controlled Segment: Hehuan Police Station to Tianxiang
Specific Control Measures:
Three major construction areas at 126.9km (Bilu Secred Tree section), 129.8 km (Ci’en section) and 158.8km (Xibao Section) operate with scheduled openings:
From 08:00 to 16:00, once passage per hour on the hour.
Only vehicles that have arrived at the checkpoint before the passage time will be allowed through.
The road is then immediately closed again until the next scheduled passage.
Other segments may implement temporary traffic controls based on real-time road inspection results from 06:00 to 16:30.
At 16:30, entry gates at Hehuan Police Station (114.6km) and west of Tianxiang (167.3km) will be closed.
No entry for eastbound traffic (toward Hualien- to the east Taiwan) or westbound (toward Dayuling, to the west Taiwan).
Between 16:30 and 18:30, the section will be cleared of vehicles (exit-only policy).
Full road closure from 18:30 to 06:00 the next day.
Section 2: Tianxiang to Taroko Entrance (167.7km–184.5km)
Controlled Segment: Tianxiang to Taroko (east entrance)
Specific Control Measures:
(1) Based on daily road inspections, traffic is permitted during the following five time slots:
07:00–08:00, 10:00, 12:00–13:00, 15:00, and 17:00–17:30.
During the 10:00 and 15:00 releases, only vehicles that are already queued at the checkpoint will be allowed to pass before the road closes again.
At 17:30, gates at Tianxiang (167.7km) and the east entrance of Shakadang Tunnel near Taroko N. P. HQ will be closed.
No entry for either direction.
Exit-only policy from 17:30 to 18:30.
Full closure from 18:30 to 07:00 the next day.
(2) Four major post-disaster reconstruction sites located at 179.5km (west end of Baisha No. 1 Bridge), 180.5km (west end of Ning’an Bridge), 181.5km (near Changchun Tunnel), and 183.1k (near Changchun Bridge) will operate with hourly traffic releases between 08:00 and 16:00 each day. During release times, the front and rear ends of the construction zones will coordinate to ensure that all vehicles that have arrived at either end prior to the scheduled release are allowed to pass. The road will then be closed again until the next scheduled release.
(3)Traffic between Taroko east Entrance and Changchun Tunnel remains under one-way control as follows:
(3-1) Westbound: Shakadang Tunnel → Xila’an Tunnel → Changchun Tunnel → Tianxiang
(3-2) Eastbound: Provincial Highway 8 → Changchun Tunnel → Taroko east Entrance → Hualien/Yilan
Other temporary or mobile construction zones (e.g., asphalt milling and paving operations) will implement short-term traffic controls as needed. These will be scheduled with consideration of nearby work zones and the release times at Guanyuan, Tianxiang, or the Taroko Entrance, aiming to minimize the impact on traffic. Separate announcements will be made if further traffic control measures are required.
In addition, the Taroko Maintenance Section of the Eastern Region Branch, Directorate General of Highways, reminds road users traveling the full 74-kilometer route from Dayuling to the Taroko Entrance to plan accordingly:
Traveling Eastbound from Dayuling to Taroko:
Arrive at the Tianxiang checkpoint (167.7km) before 17:00 to catch the final 17:00–17:30 release window.
Traveling Westbound from Taroko to Dayuling:
Enter at the Shakadang Tunnel checkpoint before 15:00 to make it through the Tianxiang–Guanyuan section before the final westbound entry cutoff at 16:30.
In the event of severe weather (e.g., heavy rain or natural disasters), traffic may be suspended or delayed due to landslides. Road clearing crews will respond accordingly. Additional temporary controls may be implemented depending on safety conditions and construction needs. Please follow instructions and drive safely.
Multiple reconstruction projects are ongoing along the eastern section of the Central Cross-Island Highway due to slope instability and damaged roadbeds. Drivers should plan ahead, proceed promptly during release periods, and avoid stopping unnecessarily, which increases both traffic risk and the chance of being trapped behind closed checkpoints.
Contact Information:
Taroko Maintenance Section – 03-9962683
Section Chief Chang Pei-Yun – 03-8610775
Last Updated: April 30, 2025
For updates, please contact the relevant maintenance section of the Highway Bureau to confirm the latest information.