Hualien Port's Old Bridge No. 20 to be Demolished, Large Vehicles Must Detour

Central News Agency, Hualien, May 14 (Reporter Chang Chi) - The Hualien Port branch of TIPC, considering that Hualien Port's Bridge No. 20 has no traffic demand and is aging and deteriorated, began demolition work in May. In coordination with the project, the port's access road will be closed from May 20 to July 18, requiring large vehicles to detour. Some sections of the Liangtan bike path will also be affected.

Hualien Port's Bridge No. 20, with a total length of about 346 meters, was opened in 1986. During a regular bridge inspection in 2022, deterioration was found in the bridge's bearing pads, seismic stoppers, and concrete protective layer.

The Hualien Port branch assessed that Bridge No. 20 has not been used for general traffic for over 20 years. Considering the bridge's age, deterioration, and lack of substantial traffic demand, and after receiving approval from the Maritime and Port Bureau of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications to decommission it, the demolition of this bridge, which has accompanied Hualien Port for nearly 40 years, officially began on May 11.

The Hualien Port branch stated that during the construction period, operations such as lifting bridge beams, demolishing piers, and the entry and exit of large machinery will be carried out. The port's access road will be closed from May 20 to July 18. Large vehicles will be rerouted to alternative roads such as Haian Road and Minsheng Road. The Liangtan bike path under the bridge will also be partially rerouted.

Furthermore, to avoid affecting traffic around the Hualien examination site and the testing environment for students during the national junior high school comprehensive assessment program, the Hualien Port branch announced that the traffic diversion measures will be implemented after the examination period ends. Traffic maintenance and safety measures have already been planned, and efforts to publicize the detour information will be strengthened. (Editor: Chang Ya-ching) 1150514