TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s transport ministry on Sunday rejected concerns that the scooter and motorcycle lane on the new Danjiang Bridge is unsafe, as the bridge prepares to open to traffic on May 12.
Public criticism has focused on the perceived narrowness of the dedicated lane, with some likening it to a “dog track” and warning that accidents could trigger chain-reaction collisions. Concerns intensified during pre-opening events that began Friday, when tens of thousands of people visited the bridge on foot.
Road races and cycling activities over the weekend also allowed participants to experience the structure firsthand, per CNA.
The Highway Bureau said the 2.5-meter-wide lane for scooters and motorcycles complies with all relevant regulations. It added that a pre-opening safety advisory group, composed of experts and scholars, has been established to review and optimize safety measures.
The bridge, which connects Tamsui and Bali, is about 920 meters long, with a 450-meter main span. It is the world’s longest single-tower asymmetrical cable-stayed bridge and one of the final projects designed by architect Zaha Hadid, who died in 2016.
The structure includes two-way dual-lane roads, a dedicated motorcycle and scooter lane, bicycle and pedestrian lanes, and space reserved for a future light rail system. The design of the motorcycle lane has drawn widespread discussion online.
In a written response, the Highway Bureau said expressway standards require a minimum lane width of 2.5 meters, which the bridge meets. It added that the lane is physically separated and part of Provincial Highway 61, using a single-lane configuration dedicated to motorcycles and scooters.
Officials acknowledged that under normal conditions, two vehicles cannot safely travel side by side in the lane. In the event of an accident, traffic could be completely blocked until the incident is cleared.
Lawmakers from both the KMT and DPP have called for improvements. An official from the Highway Bureau Northern Region New Construction Agency said the design meets all safety specifications and reiterated that the advisory group will continue to assess potential risks, per Liberty Times.
New Taipei City DPP Councilor Cheng Yu-en (鄭宇恩) said accidents could leave riders stranded and urged authorities to better communicate with motorcyclists and local residents to develop solutions that accommodate different speeds and improve safety.
KMT Legislator Hung Meng-kai (洪孟楷) also called on the central government to heed local concerns. He said a legislative transportation committee inspection tour scheduled for Thursday will include a review of the bridge.
Hung said the bridge is a major infrastructure project and that safety must remain the top priority alongside aesthetics and functionality. He added that the pre-opening period should be used to identify and address potential risks, including previously reported wind shear noise issues, which officials say are being gradually resolved.
