The Ministry of Transportation and Communications is planning a speedy review of 50 of the country’s most dangerous bridges to find the most suitable technology and construction methods for repairing them after Typhoon Morakot drastically changed the environment surrounding the bridges.
In some cases, rivers have widened from 20m to as much as 500m, Department of Railways and Highways director Chi Wen-jong (祁文中) said.
Chi said that since conventional construction methods do not prioritize fortifying bridges against the effects of torrential rains and flooding, the ministry was preparing enhanced construction standards to protect more vulnerable bridges.
The ministry is scheduled to report to the Council of Economic Planning and Development today on how it plans to restore transportation infrastructure damaged by the typhoon, an effort that is estimated will cost approximately NT$31 billion (US$943.5 million), he said.
Chi said Minister of Transportation and Communications Mao Chi-kuo (毛治國) has asked the department to prioritize projects by dividing infrastructure in need of repair into three categories.
Type A refers to highways that can be rebuilt in their current location.
Type B includes highways that must be rebuilt along a new alignment, while Type C projects include roads that need minimal restoration to provide for the needs of small numbers of residents living along their route.
“For Type A projects, the minister instructed the department to identify some projects that will serve as models for reconstruction, such as Shuangyuan Bridge [雙園大橋] in Kaohsiung,” Chi said.
“The minister has urged the department to use more advanced methods to restore these facilities, and hopefully the time needed to complete the construction work can be shortened as well,” he added.
The Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association has cautioned Japanese travelers to be vigilant against pickpockets at several popular tourist spots in Taiwan, including Taipei’s night markets, the Yongkang Street area, Zhongshan MRT Station, and Jiufen (九份) in New Taipei City. The advisory, titled “Recent Development of Concerns,” was posted on the association’s Web site under its safety and emergency report section. It urges travelers to keep backpacks fully zipped and carried in front, with valuables placed at the bottom of the bag. Visitors are advised to be especially mindful of their belongings when taking photos or speaking on the phone, avoid storing wallets and
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