TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — New Taipei on Friday opened a 6-meter-wide pedestrian walkway on the main span of the Changfu Bridge in Sanxia District after the reconstruction project reached 75% completion.
The city's Water Resources Department said Mayor Hou Yu-ih (侯友宜) inspected the site on Thursday before the early opening. Hou said the move aims to reduce waiting time for residents and give them early access to the new bridge ahead of Lunar New Year.
“The Changfu Bridge not only connects both sides of the Sanxia River but also serves as a key flood control structure and riverfront landmark,” CNA reported. The redesigned landscape will link riverside cycling and walking paths with the Sanxia Old Street commercial area to strengthen local tourism.
Hou said the old bridge was demolished in April 2024, and the Water Resources Department adopted several supporting measures to reduce disruption, per Liberty Times. These included building a temporary pedestrian bridge and quickly opening a parking lot on Guoguang Road to increase parking capacity.
Water Resources Department Director Sung Te-jen (宋德仁) said the project raised the beam height, reduced the number of piers to one, and set back the abutments to widen the river channel.
“The changes will expand the waterway cross-section by about 18% and allow the structure to meet the 100-year flood protection standard for the Sanxia River,” Sung said, per ETtoday.
“The bridge width will expand from 15 meters to 25 meters to provide more space for pedestrians and vehicles,” Sung said. He added that crews will continue work on paving, landscaping, decorative lighting, and the Anxi embankment-top walkway before the project is fully completed in July.
