New Taipei’s Landmark Danjiang Bridge Opens After 30-Year Wait
The landmark Danjiang Bridge in New Taipei is officially open to traffic, marking the end of a thirty-year planning and construction period. Designed by the late Zaha Hadid, it's the world’s longest single-tower asymmetric bridge. While many welcome the expected reduction in travel times crossing the Tamsui River, some cyclists are unhappy with the bridge's design and some local officials protested that they had been excluded from the official ceremony despite putting in years of work in coordinating the project.
Swooshing past spectators, these are some of the first riders to cross the Danjiang Bridge just north of Taipei.
After three decades of planning and construction, the world’s longest single-tower asymmetric bridge is finally open to traffic.
On Tuesday, Taiwan’s transportation minister led the project’s team in prayers for smooth traffic and prosperity in New Taipei.
In the future, it will be a major new landmark for New Taipei and Taiwan in general. It will also be a key tourist attraction.
I’m asking the Tourism Administration and New Taipei’s Tourism Department to stay in close contact going forward and to work together for New Taipei’s north coast tourism plan.
Designed by the late legendary Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid, the Danjiang Bridge is expected to cut significant time from commuters’ daily travel when crossing the Tamsui River.
Before the barricades were lifted, dozens flocked to the foot of the bridge, waiting to be let on.
Some are looking forward to quicker travel times:
It’ll be faster to get from central Taipei to Bali and Tamsui over here.
In theory, it should save about 20 minutes because taking the expressway over should be quick.
But some cyclists feel the bridge’s four-lane design only benefits motor vehicles and pedestrians:
Making the sidewalk wider is the right move but it’s a bit of a shame to put pedestrians and cyclists together. I think it’d be better to turn the current motorbike lane into a cycling lane.
And it’s not just cyclists who were dissatisfied.
City councilors and local officials showed up with protest signs at the bridge. They say they’re angry at the transportation ministry for leaving them off the guest list. They say their years of efforts helping the project and liaising with local residents have been disregarded.
We coordinated the project with locals. We also mediated with fishermen who had problems with the bridge. Our [New Taipei City Government] put up the most money. But for the bridge’s opening ceremony, [the ministry] didn’t even notify the New Taipei City Government. Not a single person was contacted. Not even elected representatives. Not even the mayor.
In response, the transportation minister says local representatives were invited to the many pre-opening events before today’s official launch.
After a long time coming, people are finally celebrating the opening of this architectural marvel. As for future maintenance and cooperation with local communities, there'll be more challenges in the years to come.
