President William Lai (賴清德) is to attend a ceremony today to mark the installation of the final prefabricated segment of the Danjiang Bridge(淡江大橋) in New Taipei City’s Tamsui District (淡水).
Installation of the last segment began yesterday, and the final attachment would be completed today in the presence of the president, according to the Ministry of Transportation and Communications’ (MOTC) Highway Bureau.
The bureau said that the dates were chosen because the final piece extends over a shallow section of the Tamsui River, requiring a high tide to allow a floating crane vessel to maneuver into position.
Photo: CNA
Most of the other bridge segments were connected using the floating crane installation method, in which heavy-lift vessels placed prefabricated pieces into position.
However, the last piece required special timing due to river conditions, the bureau said.
Designed by British firm Zaha Hadid Architects, the Danjiang Bridge is a 920m-long primary cable-stayed bridge.
Upon completion, it is to be the world’s longest asymmetric, single-mast bridge.
The late architect Zaha Hadid envisioned the project as a new landmark, blending the bridge into the natural scenery of Tamsui.
According to the MOTC, an opening ceremony for the bridge is scheduled for May 9 next year, with the structure expected to open to the public on May 12.
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