A bridge too far for Ma Ying-jeou

"In order to meet traffic needs, the government also decided to widen the Chungshan Bridge in 1968," Lin said.

The bridge lost much of its original look as a result. The bronze lanterns were torn down as a part of the bridge-widening.

Though the lanterns were scrapped because of the construction process, some felt that features left behind by the Japanese "imperialists" were destroyed out of anti-Japanese sentiment, Lin said.

While Ma has said the bridge must be moved because of flooding problems, others don't buy that explanation.

A research team hired by the city government believes relocating the Chungshan Bridge could reduce the risk of floods, but other experts disagree.

Tsay Ting-kuei (蔡丁貴), a professor of civil engineering at National Taiwan University, is one of them. Tsay has conducted his own research into flooding issues surrounding the Chungshan Bridge.

"Based on our study, moving the Chungshan Bridge would only reduce water levels by about 20cm -- and that would make no difference to the flooding issue," Tsay said.

"I would respect Mayor Ma's decision to relocate the bridge if it were based solely on concern for the bridge's cultural and transportation issues," Tsay said. "But I strongly disagree and find it regrettable that he has decided the fate of the Chungshan Bridge with the hydraulic issue as one of his reasons."