Minister of Transportation and Communications Mao Chi-kuo (毛治國) said yesterday that the ministry would closely monitor several geologically sensitive sections along the nation’s freeways and may consider closing some of them if extreme weather conditions created a threat.
“Our preliminary survey showed that 32 dip slopes along National Freeway No. 3 are safe and stable,” he said, “but we also want to hear from the experts, who will give us the results of their evaluations soon.”
Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Yeh Yi-jin (葉宜津), however, questioned the safety of National Freeway No. 3 and urged the Ministry of Transportation and Communications to close the entire freeway for a more detailed inspection.
In response, Mao said that the expert evaluation would be used to determine the safety of the freeway, however, the ministry would apply “necessary regulatory measures” to certain sections if extreme weather such as torrential rain made it unsafe to drive.
Other legislators said Mao’s response could be interpreted as meaning people should not drive whenever there is heavy rain or an earthquake. He said that the ministry would determine where the geologically sensitive sections are and under what conditions those sections of freeway should be closed.
Meanwhile, Mao said that the deadly landslide on National Freeway No. 3 two weeks ago had led the ministry to review other national compensation cases.
Last week, the ministry said that it had begun talking with the families of those who died in the landslide about claiming national compensation for their losses.
He also confirmed that the families of those killed in the collapses of the Fengchiu Tunnel (豐丘明隧道) in 2008 and the Shuangyuan Bridge (雙園大橋) last year may still be compensated by the government.
“We have found new evidence that suggests the government may be at fault,” Mao said. “It is very likely that negotiations over national compensation could resume.”
Mao also said that the Control Yuan had censured the ministry over the Shuangyuan Bridge incident, which triggered another review of the case.
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