Nearly 10,000 people are to participate in the road running and cycling races on the Danjiang Bridge (淡江大橋) this weekend, the Highway Bureau said yesterday.
The 920m bridge, which connects New Taipei City’s Tamsui (淡水) and Bali (八里) districts, was designed by the late Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid.
The architecture was inspired by performances of Tamsui-based Cloud Gate Dance Theatre.
Photo cortesy of the Highway Bureau
Once in operation, it would be the world’s longest-span cable-stayed bridge featuring a single pylon and asymmetric design.
The races are part of celebratory events that the bureau and New Taipei City jointly organized before the bridge opens for traffic on May 12.
On Saturday, about 7,000 people are scheduled to run across the bridge, including those running 21km, 10km and 5km.
The 21km race would begin at 3pm, allowing runners to watch the scenic view of the Tamsui River estuary around sunset from the bridge, the bureau said.
On Sunday, 2,500 cyclists are to participate in a cycling race, including 50km and 20km, it said, adding that the route would connect important landscape features between Tamsui and Bali districts and allow cyclists to appreciate the bridge from different angles.
To ease the traffic in Tamsui, the bureau said it has prepared free shuttle bus services departing from three separate locations at Bali’s Shihsanhang Culture Park (十三行文化公園), Shihsanhang Museum of Archaeology (十三行博物館) and Bali District Office.
After parking their motor vehicles in Bali, runners can board the shuttle buses with their number bibs and arrive at the starting point at Tamsui Fisherman’s Wharf, while cyclists can ride their bicycles across the bridge with race helmet stickers.
The bureau said that if participants have any questions, they can call (02)-8772-1035 or visit this Web site.
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