Safety of Danjiang Bridge Motorcycle Lane Sparks Debate; Hou Yu-ih: Will Conduct Rescue Drills
Ahead of the May 12 opening of Danjiang Bridge, public and political concerns have arisen over the narrow motorcycle lane and high safety fences potentially hindering emergency rescues. New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih stressed safety as the priority and ordered rescue drills prior to opening.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 22, 2026 at 16:17
- 🔍 Collected: April 22, 2026 at 16:31 (14 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 23, 2026 at 15:25 (22h 53m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(CNA Reporter Huang Hsu-sheng, New Taipei, 22nd) The Danjiang Bridge is set to open on May 12. Multiple New Taipei City councilors and citizens have questioned the narrowness of the motorcycle lane and the excessive height of the safety fences. Mayor Hou Yu-ih stated that traffic safety is the highest principle, and before opening, the Police and Fire Departments will be asked to conduct rescue drills for traffic accident casualties.
New Taipei City Government Transportation Department Director Chung Ming-shih reported at the municipal meeting today that after careful evaluation, it was determined that bridge motorcycle safety islands easily cause motorcycle collisions and affect traffic flow during peak hours. After removing the Chongxin Bridge divider island, the accident rate dropped by 33%; after changing the Fuhe Bridge physical divider to channelization lines, the accident rate dropped by 47%; after reconfiguring and improving the zigzag lanes of the New Taipei Bridge, the accident rate dropped by 90%; the project to remove the Dahan Bridge motorcycle divider is currently underway.
The soon-to-open motorcycle lane of Danjiang Bridge has sparked external discussions. In addition to questioning the narrow road width, netizens are also worried about how fire and rescue teams will transport the injured and how motorcycles will be handled.
Responding to inquiries from a Central News Agency reporter, Hou Yu-ih stated that safety is always the highest principle. The Police Department will join the Transportation Department, Fire Department, Public Works Department, and relevant central agencies to conduct segment-by-segment inspections to understand road safety.
Deputy Mayor Chu Ti-chih also told reporters that before changing the current situation, the city government will conduct rescue and relief drills targeting the Tamsui and Bali ends. How to rescue promptly within the golden time after opening is the practical approach.
Police Commissioner Fang Yang-ning stated that they plan to suggest the Ministry of Transportation and Communications' Highway Bureau to prioritize setting up gaps between the motorcycle lane and the main lanes to facilitate casualty rescue, accident clearance, and traffic diversion.
As for whether large tow trucks not specially contracted by the Highway Bureau can operate on the Danjiang Bridge? The New Taipei City Police Department recommends incorporating special contracted vendors to facilitate timely dispatching. In addition, it is recommended to adjust the Danjiang Bridge to a general road and cooperate in adjusting the starting point of the 0K milestone of Provincial Highway 61 to the Bali end.
Kuomintang city councilor Chen Wei-chieh told the Central News Agency reporter that there are steel cable anchor blocks and solid guardrails on both sides of the motorcycle lane. In a closed single-lane space, if a car accident or vehicle fire occurs, facing deadlocked traffic flow, rescue and fire trucks will be unable to enter for rescue operations.
Taiwan People's Party city councilor Chen Shih-hsuan also stated recently that if riders lack sufficient evasion space in the strong wind environment of the river mouth, they are prone to hit the guardrails or have scrapes. Democratic Progressive Party city councilor Cheng Yu-en questioned that the motorcycle lane is too narrow and the overly high safety fences will block the rescue efforts of ambulances.
(Editor: Wu Su-jou) 1150422
(CNA Reporter Huang Hsu-sheng, New Taipei, 22nd) The Danjiang Bridge is set to open on May 12. Multiple New Taipei City councilors and citizens have questioned the narrowness of the motorcycle lane and the excessive height of the safety fences. Mayor Hou Yu-ih stated that traffic safety is the highest principle, and before opening, the Police and Fire Departments will be asked to conduct rescue drills for traffic accident casualties.
New Taipei City Government Transportation Department Director Chung Ming-shih reported at the municipal meeting today that after careful evaluation, it was determined that bridge motorcycle safety islands easily cause motorcycle collisions and affect traffic flow during peak hours. After removing the Chongxin Bridge divider island, the accident rate dropped by 33%; after changing the Fuhe Bridge physical divider to channelization lines, the accident rate dropped by 47%; after reconfiguring and improving the zigzag lanes of the New Taipei Bridge, the accident rate dropped by 90%; the project to remove the Dahan Bridge motorcycle divider is currently underway.
The soon-to-open motorcycle lane of Danjiang Bridge has sparked external discussions. In addition to questioning the narrow road width, netizens are also worried about how fire and rescue teams will transport the injured and how motorcycles will be handled.
Responding to inquiries from a Central News Agency reporter, Hou Yu-ih stated that safety is always the highest principle. The Police Department will join the Transportation Department, Fire Department, Public Works Department, and relevant central agencies to conduct segment-by-segment inspections to understand road safety.
Deputy Mayor Chu Ti-chih also told reporters that before changing the current situation, the city government will conduct rescue and relief drills targeting the Tamsui and Bali ends. How to rescue promptly within the golden time after opening is the practical approach.
Police Commissioner Fang Yang-ning stated that they plan to suggest the Ministry of Transportation and Communications' Highway Bureau to prioritize setting up gaps between the motorcycle lane and the main lanes to facilitate casualty rescue, accident clearance, and traffic diversion.
As for whether large tow trucks not specially contracted by the Highway Bureau can operate on the Danjiang Bridge? The New Taipei City Police Department recommends incorporating special contracted vendors to facilitate timely dispatching. In addition, it is recommended to adjust the Danjiang Bridge to a general road and cooperate in adjusting the starting point of the 0K milestone of Provincial Highway 61 to the Bali end.
Kuomintang city councilor Chen Wei-chieh told the Central News Agency reporter that there are steel cable anchor blocks and solid guardrails on both sides of the motorcycle lane. In a closed single-lane space, if a car accident or vehicle fire occurs, facing deadlocked traffic flow, rescue and fire trucks will be unable to enter for rescue operations.
Taiwan People's Party city councilor Chen Shih-hsuan also stated recently that if riders lack sufficient evasion space in the strong wind environment of the river mouth, they are prone to hit the guardrails or have scrapes. Democratic Progressive Party city councilor Cheng Yu-en questioned that the motorcycle lane is too narrow and the overly high safety fences will block the rescue efforts of ambulances.
(Editor: Wu Su-jou) 1150422