Pingtung government gradually improves Yanshan Highway in response to indigenous youth protests

Situated in the north of Pingtung’s Gaoshu Township and covering a total distance of 68.8 kilometers, Highway 185 passes through the townships of Sandimen (三地門), Majia (瑪家), Wanluan (萬巒), Laiyi (來義), Xinpi (Xinpi) and the southerly Fangliao (枋寮). Following the trajectory of the Central Mountain Range, the road is commonly known as Yanshan Highway – literally “highway that follows the mountain.” Over the past few years, however, it has been labeled with another name – “Death Highway.”

The high volume of dumper trucks using the highway causes frequent damage to the road surface and the county government has been trying to raise maintenance funds since it took over management of the road in 2012. However, residents living in townships along the route argue that it has become nothing more that a private road for dumper trucks, that maintenance work lacks proper signposting, and that no street lamps have been installed – all of which seriously endanger the safety of road users.

Groups composed of indigenous people from townships along the route have initiated a joint youth alliance and threatened to mobilize local people to take part in protests directed at relevant government agencies in three months time. 

Pingtung government gradually improves Yanshan Highway in response to indigenous youth protests
URL:https://www.peopo.org/news/256249 

(以下是中文對照)

因應原鄉青年會抗爭 屏縣府將逐年改善沿山公路

照片

縣道185線北起高樹鄉，沿途經過三地門鄉、瑪家鄉、萬巒鄉、來義鄉、新埤鄉，南至枋寮鄉，全長68.8公里，因沿著中央山脈修建，又被稱「沿山公路」。最近幾年又被稱為「死亡公路」。由於沿山公路砂石車行駛頻繁，容易造成路面損毀，縣府自民國101年接管後每年都籌編經費維修道路。但是沿線原鄉用路人認為，這條公路形同砂石車的專用道，施工維護欠缺施工警告標誌，更沒有路燈設施，嚴重危害用路人的安全。原鄉各部落自救會，發起了聯署串聯各青年會，不排除在三個月後，號召原鄉部落及沿線用路人，向有關單位發出訴求抗議活動。