Three-quarters of Hualien County residents support the construction of the Suao-Hualien Freeway, according to the latest polls.
The construction of the NT$96.2 billion freeway project was originally slated to begin by the end of last year but was pushed back three months because of pressure from local environmental groups.
The Cabinet's decision to delay construction had been made in response to a request by Hualien County Commissioner Hsieh Shen-shan (謝深山), who had claimed that the county needed more time to map out supplementary plans and that the freeway may damage the environment.
The poll, conducted by TVBS, the China Times and United Daily News at the request of the Hualien County Government, showed that 77 percent supported building the freeway, while 17 percent expressed opposition and 6 percent had no opinion.
In the survey, 77 percent of residents felt that there was a need for the freeway, 85 percent said that the freeway would help boost the local economy and 86 percent that the freeway would help improve the transportation situation in the area and help boost tourism.
Despite protests from environmental groups about the hazards of freeway construction, 75 percent of residents surveyed in the poll said they were not worried that the freeway would lead to a decline in the quality of life and 75 percent were unconcerned about the possibility of population outflow from the region that the freeway could cause.
On the other side of the issue, 35 percent of those polled are worried about the environmental impact of freeway construction.
The phone survey was conducted between last Tuesday and Thursday and polled 1,070 Hualien County residents over the age of 20.
"The central government should respect the majority opinion and quickly resume plans for the construction of the Suao-Hualien Freeway," Hsieh said.
"Also, complete supplementary plans should be made to complement the construction," he said.
Hsieh expressed that he had simply relayed to Premier Yu Shyi-kun in mid-December that residents were hesitant about the freeway, especially since complementary plans had not been made.
According to a local newspaper, very few people refused to participate in the poll. Hsieh also commented that he was proud of the Hualien County resident's democratic standards.
Cabinet Spokesman Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said that the Cabinet would announce when construction of the road would begin after receiving an official notice from the Hualien County Government.
"We're glad that the county government and county council have successfully integrated local public opinion, which we greatly respect," Lin said.
Yu said he hoped that the county government and council would negotiate with environmentalists in the county.
"We'd also like to hear their grievances and concerns so the project will receive the utmost support of the public," Lin said.
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