A Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Taipei City councilor yesterday condemned the Taipei City Government for closing parts of Jiuquan and Yumen streets for construction work ahead of next year’s Taipei International Flora Expo.
Jiuquan Street between Zhongshan N Road and Yumen Street, and Yumen Street between Kulun Street and Minzu W Road have been closed to traffic since Saturday for the construction of an exhibition hall, causing traffic jams in the area.
DPP Taipei City Councilor Chien Yu-yen (簡余晏) panned the city government for closing the roads without holding a hearing with residents, urging it to place residents’ needs first.
PHOTO: CNA
Independent Councilor Chen Chien-ming (陳建銘) said he had warned the city government in June of traffic congestion if the streets were closed, but the city government insisted on continuing with the construction.
“[Taipei] Mayor Hau [Lung-bin, 郝龍斌] has invested a great deal of money in the flora expo and has risked inconveniencing residents for the exhibition. We will wait and see how much profit the expo brings the city,” Chen said.
Hau yesterday apologized for the traffic congestion when inspecting the area, and said the city had suggested alternative routes for drivers.
“Closing the roads did inconvenience the public, but we call on residents to be tolerant and patient, as the construction is necessary for next year’s expo,” he said.
Luo Shiaw-shyan (羅孝賢), commissioner of the city’s Department of Transportation, said the city government would let drivers turn left on Zhongshan N Road from Jiantan Road starting today to ease the traffic.
Luo also encouraged drivers traveling north to use Xinsheng Overpass instead, as the bridge has not reached full capacity.
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