The Pingtung Provincial Highway, which leads from Pingtung to Kenting, mostly runs along the coastline from Fangshan Township to Checheng Township.
Four years ago, the county government commissioned a comprehensive inspection of the coastal section’s protective facilities. It was discovered that the Checheng Coastal Scenic Highway, which opened seven years ago and spans nearly 2 kilometers, has been experiencing gradual erosion of the sandy beach on its left side due to coastal currents.
The beach is now only about 10 meters away from the road. During typhoons or large waves, there is a risk of breaching the protective embankment and endangering traffic safety.
The county government has allocated 300 million NT dollars for a 2-year offshore submerged embankment and beach nourishment project to restore the beautiful appearance of the beach. The project is scheduled to be completed in October.
Checheng Beach Virtual Tour
To alleviate the holiday congestion on Taiwan Provincial Highway 26 from Pingtung to Kenting, the county government has invested 1.25 billion NT dollars in constructing a coastal scenic highway in Checheng Township, from Haikou Port to the National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium.
This road spans a total length of 5.7 kilometers and includes a flat road, scenic trails, and bicycle lanes.
After passing through the Marine Biology and Aquarium, it connects various well-known attractions along the west coast of Kenting National Park.
Golden Coast Beach is another beach in Checheng along the coastal highway.
Turn right here in Haikou when you go to Kenting, to drive via Coastal Highway
Along the way, two cable-stayed bridges cross the Sizhong and Baoli rivers, providing a spectacular view.
Initially, the road was illuminated with colorful lights at night, creating a dazzling display.
However, after the local township office took over maintenance, they were unable to afford the upkeep, resulting in the lights being turned off.
Upon learning that the county government will invest an additional 300 million NT dollars for offshore submerged embankment and beach nourishment projects, the residents of Checheng have dubbed it the “most expensive township road in the entire county.”
Four years ago, the county government commissioned Chung Shan (中山大學) University to conduct a comprehensive inspection of the road protective facilities along the coastal sections of the Pingnan area. It was discovered that in the middle section of the Checheng Coastal Scenic Highway, a sandy beach on the left side stretches for about 2 kilometers.
Due to erosion caused by coastal currents, the beach has gradually been disappearing. The closest distance between the beach and the road is only a little over 10 meters.
Although there is a coastal cement embankment on the left side of the road, the absence of a beach protective barrier poses a potential risk to the safety of road users in the event of typhoons generating large waves. The residents of Checheng were also surprised to see how the beautiful beach of their childhood has changed.
According to the County Government’s Ocean and Fisheries Management Office, the beach nourishment project for the Checheng Coastal Scenic Highway has been carried out in two phases starting two years ago.
The budget for the first phase was 50 million NT dollars, while the second phase increased to 250 million NT dollars. The construction method involved placing revetment blocks as submerged embankments near the sea and simultaneously backfilling the dredged sediment from the nearby Haikou Fishing Port.
The beach nourishment progress has been quite successful, with observations indicating that some of the previously eroded sandy beaches has returned.
Additionally, some road users have expressed that the coastal embankment on the left side obstructs the view of the sea. To address this, plans have been made to lower the height of the seawall so that drivers can enjoy the beautiful ocean scenery.