An inauguration ceremony was held yesterday for the Danjiang Bridge, the world’s longest single-mast asymmetric cable-stayed bridge, ahead of its official opening to traffic on Tuesday, marking a major milestone after nearly three decades of planning and construction.
At the ceremony in New Taipei City attended by President William Lai (賴清德), Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰), Minister of Transportation and Communications Chen Shih-kai (陳世凱) and New Taipei City Mayor Hou Yu-ih (侯友宜), the bridge was hailed as both an engineering landmark and a long-awaited regional transport link connecting Tamsui (淡水) and Bali (八里) districts across the mouth of the Tamsui River (淡水河).
“This bridge is Taiwan’s pride. It will become a landmark for Taiwan and another calling card for the country on the international stage,” Lai said.
Photo: CNA
“I also hope people across the country can, through the construction of the Danjiang Bridge, feel the respect Taiwan has earned internationally. If we stand united and work together, Taiwan will certainly become even better,” he said.
He thanked the construction team from Kung Sing Engineering Corp for taking on a project with no precedent, praising its determination to push beyond their limits.
The ceremony featured singing performances by Taiwan Indigenous groups and a dance performance by Taiwan’s renowned Cloud Gate Dance Theatre.
It also paid tribute to engineers, construction workers and project staff involved in the bridge’s development over the years.
“From start to finish, this project was difficult, whether because of the weather conditions, the environment or the design,” Chen said prior to the ceremony. “The bridge deck also has to accommodate the widest range of transport modes in Taiwan, including pedestrians, bicycles, scooters, cars, buses and even light rail.”
Designed by the renowned late Pritzker Prize-winning architect Zaha Hadid, who was known as the “Queen of Curves,” the bridge spans nearly 1 kilometer across the mouth of the Tamsui River in northern Taiwan, featuring a single curved mast inspired by the movements of dancers from Cloud Gate Dance Theatre.
CNN named the Danjiang Bridge one of the 11 architecture projects set to shape the world in 2025.
Authorities expect it to help relieve chronic congestion around the Guandu Bridge and improve access between New Taipei City and Taoyuan International Airport.
Following its opening on Tuesday, the trip between Tamsui and Bali will be shortened by 15 kilometers, saving around 25 minutes of travel time, with traffic on existing routes expected to fall by 30 percent.
The bridge project was first proposed in 1998 but faced years of delays due to environmental reviews, design revisions and construction difficulties.
Construction finally began in 2019 after multiple failed tenders, with engineers later overcoming challenges ranging from underwater leaks to strong winds at the river estuary.
FUKUOKA SITUATION: Japanese media reported that the pathogen is expected to be identified by the summer, while the CDC downplayed the idea that it was hMPV A “mysterious cold-like illness” reported in Japan’s Fukuoka Prefecture does not seem to be a new disease, but Japanese authorities have been asked about the situation, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday. The Fukuoka Prefectural Medical Association on Wednesday told a news conference that a “mystery cold” that has become a hot topic on social media is “highly likely to be caused by some kind of viral infection,” Japan’s KBC News reported. “Many people are experiencing symptoms starting with a sore throat, followed by a runny nose, phlegm and a severe cough,” KBC News reported, citing association officials. Health authorities are
Nvidia Corp CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) arrived in Taiwan yesterday ahead of upcoming AI and technology events, saying he plans to meet with clients and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家) during his visit. After landing at Taipei Songshan Airport, Huang posed for photos with fans and handed out Yakult drinks to reporters and supporters waiting at the scene, saying he has “a lot to do” during the trip. Asked about reports that Nvidia’s planned headquarters site in Taipei’s Beitou Shilin Technology Park could break ground on May 27, Huang said that if the company holds an event, he would
The Ministry of Finance this afternoon announced the winning numbers for the March-April uniform invoice lottery. The winning number for the NT$10 million (US$318,060) special prize is 19531471, and the winning number for the NT$2 million grand prize is 85941329. Three numbers were drawn for the NT$200,000 first prize: 07225810, 20231230 and 83518781. Those with receipts matching the last seven digits of any of the first-prize numbers will win the NT$40,000 second prize, while those matching the last six digits will win the NT$10,000 third prize. Those whose receipts match the last five digits of the first-prize numbers can claim the NT$4,000 fourth prize,
SIX SUBSIDIES: The monthly allowance for older farmers is to increase to NT$10,000, and NT$5,000 is to be given to homemakers under the national pension system, Lai said The government is to implement major welfare policies for disadvantaged groups, including raising the monthly allowance for older farmers to NT$10,000 and providing homemakers with NT$5,000 per month, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday. Lai made the remarks during a visit to Wangling Temple in Chiayi County, saying that the planned increases were being introduced amid economic growth and an increase in tax revenue. Touting a policy, in which the government plans to provide a monthly allowance of NT$5,000 for every child under the age of 18 in a bid to address Taiwan’s low birthrate, Lai said that if received for the
RSS