The Xinsheng Overpass (新生高架橋), a major traffic artery connecting north and south Taipei City, reopened yesterday after a reconstruction project, easing traffic around the Yuanshan area.
The bridge, which underwent 16 months of reconstruction and maintenance work, will improve traffic flow around the Yuanshan area, and drivers heading to Shihlin (士林), Beitou (北投) and Dazhi (大直) will save about 20 minutes, Taipei City’s New Construction Works Office said.
Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌) yesterday presided over the launch of the overpass, and said he expected the reconstruction work to extend the life of the bridge by another 30 years.
PHOTO: LIU HSIN-DE, TAIPEI TIMES
“The Xinsheng Overpass is the major traffic artery connecting Shihlin, Dazhi and Neihu, and will also be the [main] boulevard of the Flora Expo. We invite residents to attend the expo next year by taking the bridge,” he said yesterday on the overpass.
The Xinsheng Overpass will serve as a major route leading to key exhibition locations of the Taipei International Flora Expo next year, including Dachia Riverside Park.
The overpass, which was built more than 25 years ago, has been undergoing reconstruction work since July last year.
The reconstruction work strengthened the structure of the bridge and increased its earthquake resistance capacity.
Wu Chun-hsian (吳俊賢), director of the office, said the reconstruction project also smoothed the surface of the bridge by reducing the number of expansion joints.
When asked about the substandard adhesive used in the construction work, Hau said the city government changed the adhesive immediately after its quality of the construction was called into question, and an assessment report conducted by Taipei Structural Engineers Association last month ensured the safety of the bridge.
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