Pingtung County Magistrate Zhou Chun-mi Inspects Drainage Improvement Projects Amid Heavy Rainfall

(Central News Agency, reporter Huang Yujing, Pingtung County, 9th) Affected by a stationary front and southwest air currents, Pingtung is prone to short-duration heavy rainfall. County Magistrate Zhou Chun-mi visited the Wanluan Township area and sections along County Road 185 prone to flooding today to inspect the progress of drainage improvement projects. The projects have entered their final stages and are expected to be completed by the end of the year.

Magistrate Zhou stated that due to continuous heavy rain in the mountainous areas of Pingtung today, work and classes were suspended in eight townships. Therefore, she arranged to visit the Provincial Highway along the mountain and the Wanluan area to inspect previously flood-prone road sections and related hydraulic engineering progress. The Wanjin Drainage Improvement Project primarily addresses the downstream drainage bottleneck issue caused by runoff from the Mashixi mountain area. By widening the drainage cross-section and reconstructing bridges to enhance flood discharge capacity, the project is now in its final stage. Once the bridge is completed, it will provide flood prevention and water management benefits, reducing the local flood risk.

Magistrate Zhou said that to improve the low-lying terrain and inadequate drainage system of the Jinshi Coffee section of County Road 185, the county government is implementing comprehensive management for rainwater converging from the Taiwu Township mountain area. It utilizes Taiwan Sugar Corporation land to establish a detention pond, temporarily storing peak floodwaters before releasing them downstream in a controlled manner, effectively sharing the drainage pressure.

Magistrate Zhou mentioned her gratitude to President Lai Ching-te for supporting the flood control projects. The related projects have progressed smoothly since breaking ground last year and are gradually showing flood prevention effectiveness. She stated that construction progress will continue to be accelerated to ensure the safety of life and property for residents in Wanluan and the mountain-adjacent areas.

The Water Resources Department of the Pingtung County Government stated in a press release that the "Wanjin Drainage 3K+122 to 3K+961 Revetment New Construction Project" includes new revetment construction, box culvert facilities, and river channel improvements. Considering the impact on local traffic and residents' commutes during the construction period, the project is being promoted in phases. Through bridge reconstruction and channel widening, the drainage and flood discharge capacity will be enhanced. Combined with the revetment design, it allows floodwaters to moderately overflow into surrounding spaces during heavy rain, utilizing local detention functions to effectively reduce upstream flooding.

The Water Resources Department pointed out that the "Drainage Improvement Project for the Flood-Prone Area at 40K+100 on County Road 185" is located on an important transportation route at the boundary between mountainous and plain areas. Due to high traffic volume, large-scale excavation for burying box culverts is unsuitable. Therefore, methods such as interception and diversion, multiple flood-diversion routes, and box culvert facilities are adopted to effectively disperse water volume into a 2.2-hectare detention pond. This pond can store approximately 58,000 tons of floodwater. By integrating water retention and eco-friendly concepts, it will effectively improve the long-standing flooding problem on County Road 185. Both projects are expected to be completed by the end of the year. (Editor: Guan Zhongwei) 1150609