New Taipei Fire Dept: Danjiang Bridge Features Multi-Path Rescue Plans to Ensure Safety Upon Opening
Ahead of the Danjiang Bridge's opening on May 12, the New Taipei City Fire Department addressed concerns over the narrow motorcycle lane by announcing a multi-path rescue mechanism using pedestrian and main lanes to ensure rapid emergency response.
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- 📰 Published: April 23, 2026 at 17:37
- 🔍 Collected: April 23, 2026 at 18:02 (24 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 23, 2026 at 19:37 (1h 35m after Collected)
Central News Agency (Reporter: Huang Hsu-sheng, New Taipei, 23rd) The Danjiang Bridge will open to traffic on May 12. The New Taipei City Fire Department stated today that it has prepared bridge accident rescue response plans and drills. In the event of an accident in the motorcycle lane, rescue operations will flexibly utilize pedestrian paths, bicycle paths, and car lanes to prioritize the safety of the injured.
New Taipei City councilors across party lines and road safety groups have questioned the width of the Danjiang Bridge's motorcycle lane, arguing it is too narrow and prone to collisions, while the safety island fences are too high, potentially hindering ambulance access. There were concerns that in the event of a vehicle fire or injury, emergency response vehicles would be unable to enter the paralyzed traffic to perform rescues.
According to a briefing given today by Wang Lung-cheng, Section Chief at the Highway Bureau's Northern Region Branch, during a local inspection by the Legislative Yuan's Transportation Committee regarding the "Danjiang Bridge Motorcycle Lane Configuration and Response Mechanism," the bridge management center will immediately trigger cross-departmental coordination, traffic control, rescue, and towing mechanisms upon receiving reports of accidents in the motorcycle lane.
The briefing noted that disaster prevention drills were held on April 9, 14, and 21. Once open, incident handling will adopt a dual-track mechanism: "neighboring main lane rescue" parallel with "utilizing pedestrian/bicycle spaces." Personnel and the injured will be rescued via the pedestrian and bicycle spaces, while accident vehicles will be towed away by tow trucks operating across the barriers from the main car lanes.
City Fire Department Commissioner Chen Chong-yue stated in a phone interview today that although three drills were conducted previously, another on-site drill was held on the 22nd to test how ambulances get onto the bridge and rescue the injured. He emphasized that rescues will not be restricted to a single lane; corresponding rescue plans will be adopted based on the traffic volume, accident severity, and number of injured at the scene of the crash or fire.
Chen said practical tests confirmed that ambulances can enter the motorcycle lane. Accompanied by police traffic control and the addition of emergency rescue openings, ambulances can enter the rescue scene concurrently from the Tamsui end or against traffic from the Bali end.
The "cable dampers" for the main bridge's cable-stayed section are located outside the barrier of the motorcycle lane. The Fire Department stated that rescuers will avoid the cable anchorages and rigid barriers during operations, and if necessary, personnel will enter the scene on foot carrying long backboards and other rescue tools. (Editor: Lin Shu-hui) 1150423
New Taipei City councilors across party lines and road safety groups have questioned the width of the Danjiang Bridge's motorcycle lane, arguing it is too narrow and prone to collisions, while the safety island fences are too high, potentially hindering ambulance access. There were concerns that in the event of a vehicle fire or injury, emergency response vehicles would be unable to enter the paralyzed traffic to perform rescues.
According to a briefing given today by Wang Lung-cheng, Section Chief at the Highway Bureau's Northern Region Branch, during a local inspection by the Legislative Yuan's Transportation Committee regarding the "Danjiang Bridge Motorcycle Lane Configuration and Response Mechanism," the bridge management center will immediately trigger cross-departmental coordination, traffic control, rescue, and towing mechanisms upon receiving reports of accidents in the motorcycle lane.
The briefing noted that disaster prevention drills were held on April 9, 14, and 21. Once open, incident handling will adopt a dual-track mechanism: "neighboring main lane rescue" parallel with "utilizing pedestrian/bicycle spaces." Personnel and the injured will be rescued via the pedestrian and bicycle spaces, while accident vehicles will be towed away by tow trucks operating across the barriers from the main car lanes.
City Fire Department Commissioner Chen Chong-yue stated in a phone interview today that although three drills were conducted previously, another on-site drill was held on the 22nd to test how ambulances get onto the bridge and rescue the injured. He emphasized that rescues will not be restricted to a single lane; corresponding rescue plans will be adopted based on the traffic volume, accident severity, and number of injured at the scene of the crash or fire.
Chen said practical tests confirmed that ambulances can enter the motorcycle lane. Accompanied by police traffic control and the addition of emergency rescue openings, ambulances can enter the rescue scene concurrently from the Tamsui end or against traffic from the Bali end.
The "cable dampers" for the main bridge's cable-stayed section are located outside the barrier of the motorcycle lane. The Fire Department stated that rescuers will avoid the cable anchorages and rigid barriers during operations, and if necessary, personnel will enter the scene on foot carrying long backboards and other rescue tools. (Editor: Lin Shu-hui) 1150423