TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen (盧秀燕) wants to break ground on the Taichung Super Dome project before she leaves office later this year, despite criticism from city councilors.
Speaking at Taichung City Hall on Friday, Lu told lawmakers the the city has an obligation to begin as soon as possible on such a major infrastructure project. Councilors from both the DPP and KMT have criticized the plans, arguing that the location and project specifications should be left to the next mayor’s administration, reported CNA.
Taichung City Sports Bureau said a suitable site for the Super Dome was chosen in the Shuinan Economic and Trade Park, located in Xitun District. Previous reports on the Taichung Super Dome indicate the stadium will seat 30,000 and require an estimated budget of NT$40 billion (US$1.26 billion).
KMT Councilor Li Chung (李中) criticized the proposed location, calling on the mayor to consider other options. DPP Councilor Li Tien-sheng (李天生) agreed that a stadium at Shuinan industrial park will contribute to serious traffic problems in the future.
The mayor argued that Taichung should not replicate the problems that plagued the Taipei Dome, which took nearly 20 years to complete. If construction can be expedited, Lu previously said she hopes the dome will be completed and operational by 2030.
Lu said that people in Central Taiwan are hopeful about the dome project and construction should not be delayed. In response to concerns over traffic, she said Taipei Dome is located near the World Trade Center, and major events held simultaneously have not caused any serious problems for the capital, per CNA.
Earlier this week, the city celebrated the competition of another major infrastructure project with the opening of the Taichung International Convention and Exhibition Center. Taichung is also two years into the construction of the 10,000-seat Taichung Arena project, expected to be completed in 2030.
With a mayoral election approaching in November, some councilors in both parties are calling for Lu to leave the Taichung Super Dome project to the next administration.
