The Taroko National Park Headquarters on Tuesday said it hopes to reopen some of the park’s safer trails and scenic spots to the public by the end of year, following damage from the April 3 earthquake.
The park in Hualien County has been closed to the public since a magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck just off the coast two months ago.
Reconstruction has been ongoing, with reopening to be conducted in phases, the headquarters said.
Photo: Yu Tai-lang, Taipei Times
Contractors have been commissioned to design repairs of areas that were only lightly damaged and pose fewer safety risks, with construction contracts to be awarded next month, it said.
The spots that are to open earlier are Taroko Terrace (太魯閣台地), the northern section of Taroko Terrace Trail, Changchun Shrine (長春祠), Buluowan (布洛灣) lower terrace, Buluowan suspension bridge, Tunnel of Nine Turns Trail (九曲洞步道), Tianxiang (天祥), and the Chongde Trail (崇德步道) and Huide Trail (匯德步道) along the Suhua Highway, it said.
If plans proceed smoothly, portions could reopen by the end of the year, the headquarters said.
However, the upcoming typhoon season and continuing aftershocks could hinder repair efforts, it added.
More time would be needed for more severely damaged trails and scenic spots, including Swallow Grotto Trail (燕子口步道), Shakadang Trail (砂卡礑步道), Lushui Trail (綠水步道) and Zhuilu Old Road (錐麓古道), it said.
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