President William Lai (賴清德) today oversaw the installation of the final prefabricated segment of the new Danjiang Bridge (淡江大橋) in New Taipei City’s Tamsui District (淡水).
Installation of the segment began yesterday, and the final attachment was completed today in the presence of the president, Minister of Transportation and Communications Chen Shi-kai (陳世凱) and New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜).
The Danjiang Bridge is a work of art and a world-class project, Lai said, calling it “Taiwan’s glory.”
Photo: Lo Kuo-chia, Taipei Times
It is a 920m-long primary cable-stayed bridge, nearly 70 stories tall, designed by world-famous architect Zaha Hadid, a winner of the Pritzker Architecture Prize.
The late architect Zaha Hadid envisioned the project as a new landmark, blending the bridge into the natural scenery of Tamsui.
Hadid was inspired by a dancer from Taiwan’s Cloud Gate Dance Theatre, Lai said.
Lai called it a piece of dynamic and beautiful artwork that looks like it is dancing on the Tamsui River.
Upon completion, the bridge, which is to have a 450m span, is to be the world’s longest asymmetric, single-mast bridge.
It was mentioned in CNN’s “11 architecture projects set to shape the world in 2025.”
The bridge represents Taiwan’s resilience and perseverance, Lai said.
The total budget for the project, which started in 2019, is NT$23.38 billion (US$766 million).
The bridge connecting Tamsui and Bali (八里) districts is expected to ease traffic on Provincial Highway 2 by 17 percent and the Guandu Bridge (關渡大橋) by 30 percent, Lai said.
It is to make it more convenient for residents of the two districts to travel to Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport and city centers, he said.
The driving distance between Tamsui and Bali is to be shortened by 15km and drivers can save 25 minutes of travel time, he added.
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.
Upon completion, the bridge is expected to handle 24,000 to 25,000 visitors on holidays, Chen said in December last year.
The bridge would also have pedestrian and bicycle lanes to encourage tourists to visit and enjoy sunset views, he added.
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