Taipei's Dunhua North Road Underground Drainage Project to be Completed by 2029, Storing Volume Equivalent to 16 Swimming Pools

Mayor Chiang Wan-an of Taipei City announced last year that the city would pioneer the construction of an underground pipe-shaped flood retention facility, the "Dunhua North Road Reservoir Facility" (Dunbei Underground Drainage). This facility will utilize MRT shield tunneling technology to construct storage pipes, enabling it to provide a buffer function immediately upon the arrival of heavy rains.

The Taipei City Public Works Department, Water Resources Engineering Office, announced in a press release today that the bid for the Dunbei Underground Drainage project has completed its evaluation and award process, with Xiangyi Construction Engineering Co., Ltd. winning the bid. Construction is scheduled to commence in July and be completed by the end of ROC year 118 (2029).

The Water Resources Office explained that this project, with a budget of approximately NT$1.7 billion, will extend south from Dunbei Park to Nanjing East Road. It will feature a storage pipe with an inner diameter of 6.1 meters and a length of 1117 meters, providing a total storage capacity of 32,000 tons, equivalent to the volume of 16 standard swimming pools. This will effectively enhance regional drainage capacity and further strengthen the urban flood control system.

The Water Resources Office stated that the project draws upon the experience of Japan's Tokyo Gaikaku Water Retention Facility, employing shield tunneling technology for construction approximately 20 to 35 meters underground. Excavation will proceed without disturbing surface traffic, surrounding commercial activities, or affecting ground-level recreational spaces. By connecting with the surrounding drainage system, it will function like underground minimally invasive surgery. Upon completion, it will not only improve the city's capacity to withstand rainfall and speed up post-disaster recovery but also become a new landmark for disaster prevention. (Editor: Li Xizhang) 1150408