Heavy Rain Threatens Kaohsiung Mountain Areas, 5 Sections of Provincial Highways May Be Closed Preemptively

Key news on the opening of the Southern Cross-Island Highway

(Central News Agency, reporter Zhang Yilian, Kaohsiung, 8th) Based on data from the Central Weather Administration, the Directorate General of Highways (DGH) predicts a high probability of heavy rain or above in the Kaohsiung mountain area from today to the day after tomorrow. The DGH stated that it does not rule out implementing preemptive closures on Provincial Highways 20 and 29 and advised the public to avoid entering the mountains unless necessary.

The Jiaxian Maintenance Section of the DGH's Southern District Maintenance Engineering Office explained today that, considering poor nighttime visibility due to continuous rainfall in the mountainous area and the risk of falling rocks and road subsidence from softened soil, preemptive closures of five sections on Provincial Highways 20 and 29 are not ruled out.

The Jiaxian Maintenance Section pointed out that two sections on Provincial Highway 20 are being considered for preemptive closure: the temporary road No. 93 from Qinhe to Fuxing, and the section from Baolai to Taoyuan on Provincial Highway 20 (including part of the Shengjing Bridge on Highway 20).

As for Provincial Highway 29, three sections are being considered for preemptive closure: the Minsheng Bridge section, the Sanminghuo section, and the temporary road No. 11 from Namasia to Wulipu.

The Jiaxian Maintenance Section advises road users to avoid entering mountainous roads unless necessary and to check real-time traffic conditions using the DGH's 'Xingfu Gonglu' app, the DGH's Disaster Prevention and Rescue Information System website, and the DGH's Intelligent Provincial Highway Real-Time Information Service website.

In response to the heavy rain threat, the Kaohsiung City Government elevated its Flood Response Center from an expanded Level 3 to Level 2 today. Given the higher rainfall intensity in the mountainous areas, all disaster prevention units of the Kaohsiung City Government have completed relevant preparatory work. (Editor: Chen Qingfang) 1150608