President Ma Ying-jeou presided over the ground-breaking ceremony of the Taimali section of South Link highway last Saturday, instructing the local authorities to complete the reconstruction projects prior to August next year.

The 88 flooding two years ago and typhoon Fanapi last year ruined the bridges of Taimali of the Southlink Highway and Railway, which severely disrupted the traffic access of Taitung.

While the two bridges are the major traffic access in the county, they have been flooded twice in the typhoons these few years, a situation that frustrated and upset local residents, who can't wait for the reconstruction.

On Saturday, President Ma Ying-jeou, accompanied by Premier Wu Den-yih, presided over the groundbreaking ceremony of the bridges.

However, it's been a longbefore the construction projects begin.

According the railway and the highway authority, the delayed projects were for the Taimali river management efforts,

Last year, the Executive Yuan announced the flood prevention line was set 250 meters inward.

Only after that, the construction plans for the two bridges can begin and the projects are estimated to be done in October next year. President Ma hopes the construction would be finished earlier than expected.

But surprisingly, the township chief led a group of people to stage a protest at the same time, over the issue of state-owned land lease.

When the president was about to board the car and leave, he was stopped again by DPP aboriginal lawmaker Chen Ying and her supporters over the issue of Aboriginal Autonomy Act.

But the president didnt make any comments on the two issues. Observers believe how the Ma administration handles the hot issues would influence its chance of re-election.