When the road was finished the Qing government accepted Shen Baozhen's proposal to recruit people to cultivate the east coast. Finally, the long-standing prohibition against people from the mainland of China crossing the strait to Taiwan was lifted. Enticements such as free tickets, food and land attracted many immigrants from Fujian and Guangdong to brave the passage and join the ranks of those bringing the land under cultivation.
道路完成後，清政府採納沈葆楨招募民眾墾耕東岸之議，終於廢除了百年來不准大陸內地人民渡台的禁令，並提供船票、口糧、田地等誘因，吸引了不少閩、粵移民乘風破浪，加入台灣開墾行列。