In 1919 work formally began on the eastern and western sections of the "Patungkuan traversing road." The eastern section went from Yuli in Hualien to Tashuiku, while the western section ran from Hsinyi in Nantou to Tashuiku. Many police stations and related educational and health installations were set up along the route.
一九一九年，「八通關越橫斷道路」分東、西兩端正式動工，東段自花蓮玉里至大水窟，西段自南投信義鄉至大水窟，沿線設置多處警官駐在所和相關的教育、醫療設施。