Danjiang Bridge Traffic Heavy but Smooth on First Weekend, Says New Taipei Transportation Department

(New Taipei, 17th, CNA Reporter Wang Hung-kuo) On the first weekend after the opening of the Danjiang Bridge, many people flocked to try it out. The New Taipei City Transportation Bureau stated that the traffic situation was much better than on Saturday; traffic was heavy but flowed smoothly. Local residents said that while weekends are always busy with people and cars, the traffic situation has improved significantly. Lin Chao-hsien, a senior specialist at the Transportation Bureau, told CNA that although traffic on the Danjiang Bridge was still heavy today, it was much better than yesterday's situation. The main congestion was on the surface roads at the Tamsui and Bali ends, as well as the connecting ramps for Provincial Highways 64 and 61. However, thanks to effective police traffic control, the flow was slow but smooth, with no accidents reported. Lin Chao-hsien stated that despite the heavy traffic, it has effectively diverted traffic from Provincial Highway 2, leading to smooth travel, and even the Guandu Bridge rarely experienced traffic jams. As many people are still visiting for the novelty, they will continue to observe for a period before making more effective adjustments to traffic signal timings. Wu Ta-wei, Director of the Hsinchu City Government's Department of Labor and Youth Development, who visited the Danjiang Bridge today, said he brought his family to watch the sunset from the bridge and found the scenery beautiful. He believes it will become a major popular attraction. However, he suggested that the pedestrian walkway signage could be improved, and noted that the pavement is too rough and should be improved to prevent children or cyclists from getting serious scrapes if they fall. A local resident surnamed Chen, who has lived in the Tamsui Shalun area since childhood, told CNA that the traffic benefits of the Danjiang Bridge are very obvious. Previously, just getting in and out of Tamsui meant traffic jams, taking over 20 minutes just to get to Zhuwei. He said he used to go fishing near Shen'ao, and the drive home often took an hour and a half. Now, taking Provincial Highway 64 to 61 and crossing the Danjiang Bridge, he can get home in about 50 minutes with smooth driving, saving a lot of time. Furthermore, even traveling on Provincial Highway 2 to Taipei, the traffic is much smoother, which feels great.