35. Taroko Gorge Road, Taiwan
Constructed: 1956
Risk Factor: Narrow roads, typhoons, debris in the road
The Taroko Gorge Road was carved right from the mountain face. It is also called the Central Cross-Island Highway, and it is the opposite of a modern, sleek highway. The Taroko Gorge Road is extremely narrow, and scooters, buses, pedestrians, and cars all fight for their spot on the tiny road.
Taroko Gorge Road, Taiwan ©Chris Rawlins / Shutterstock.com
As if that weren’t enough, typhoons are a common problem in the region. Heavy rains from these sometimes-vicious cyclonic storms can flood the road or dislodge debris. Seismic activity is also a risk in the Gorge, and the Taroko’s walls are prone to fail if the shaking becomes too intense.