These and other major construction projects provided a great boost to the industrial development of Taiwan and helped to raise living standards. These projects affected the distribution of population. The North-South Freeway and railway electrification projects link all the major cities along the west coast of Taiwan, shorten travel times between the north and the south, and promote Taiwan's economic and social development. Taichung Harbour facilitates the import and export of materials and products for Taichung's industrial development. Following the completion of the Ten Major Construction Projects, the government launched the Twelve Major Construction Projects and the Fourteen Major Construction Projects.
Infrastructure affects both regional population distribution and regional economic activities.
Most of the investment capital for the Ten, Twelve, and Fourteen Major Construction Projects was concentrated in the north and the south. This induced people to move northward or southward and thus stimulated the formation and expansion of cities. The encouragement of export-oriented industries brought rapid industrialization and urbanization, and stimulated the development of the service sectors. Promoting international trade also encouraged tertiary industries. To strengthen infrastructure and develop human capital, transportation, communications, and social overhead capital were promoted.