The National Expressway Engineering Bureau (NEEB) yesterday denied it used weak ground anchors to hold back slopes when constructing the Formosa Freeway (National Freeway No. 3).
The denial came after a story published in yesterday’s Chinese-language Apple Daily said information gathered from the NEEB and the National Freeway Bureau both indicated that the ground anchors used when building the Sun Yat-Sen Freeway (National Freeway No. 1) had a safety factor of three, meaning that the ground anchors were designed to withstand forces of up to three times the load.
The story said that those used when constructing Freeway No. 3 had a safety factor of between two and three. The daily reported that on the section of National Freeway No. 3 where a landslide claimed the lives of four people last week, ground anchors with a safety factor of only 2.17 were used.
NEEB’s chief engineer Lu Jieh-bin (呂介斌) said that the bureau used ground anchors with the same safety standards in the construction of both freeways.
“Our construction standards were set by consulting with those used in the international community,” Lu said. “Depending on factors, such as where and for how long the ground anchors are to be installed, the standards set for ground anchors differ.”
Lu said the slopes alongside National Freeway No. 3 were permanent features, which required the use of ground anchors with the highest safety factor.
“The ground anchors have two parts: a fixed-length part and a free-length part,” Lu said. “The fixed-length part was installed on bedrock, which must have a safety factor of three, whereas the safety factor for the free-length part, or steel strands, is two.”
Lu said the reporter may have gotten confused with the safety factor set for the fixed-length part and that set for the free-length part.
In related news, Minister of the Interior Jiang Yi-huah (江宜樺) yesterday said he would instruct local governments to conduct a new series of geological safety assessments on hillside communities within two weeks and start work on the relevant safety procedures.
Jiang made the remarks when answering lawmakers’ questions at the legislature’s Internal Administration Committee meeting.
Last week’s massive landslide on the Formosa Freeway that killed four people brought the issue of whether any of the nation’s hillside communities are in geologically unsafe regions into the spotlight. Since then, lawmakers have been pushing for the government to survey and publish data about geologically sensitive areas nationwide.
Jiang said that in 1999 and 2000, the ministry instructed local governments across the country to conduct geological surveys and safety assessments, but it would need to update the assessments because there have been no follow-up measures taken since that time.
The last series of surveys showed that there were 27 level A, or potentially dangerous areas, 94 level B areas, which means the areas need increased surveillance, and 284 level C areas with no significant dangers, he said.
Jiang said the ministry would gather the reports from local governments, which are due within two weeks, and take necessary action.
“We will gather experts, form a committee and double-check areas that have been marked safe,” he said. “As for potential danger zones, we will have geological experts conduct on-site inspections and advise local governments on making improvements and on safety monitoring techniques.”
Jiang said that the entire process, including structural reinforcements to ensure geological safety, would take about one to two months. The ministry would also negotiate with local governments on how to divide the costs of maintenance and reinforcement work.
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