TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – A decision whether or not to close the Danjiang Bridge for traffic during typhoons should not depend on official typhoon holidays, the New Taipei City Government said Tuesday.
The bridge, opened to the public on May 12, was closed from last Friday evening to the end of Saturday due to Typhoon Bavi. New Taipei was one of the areas that cancelled schools and work during the two days.
However, discussing the issue on Tuesday, New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih (侯友宜) said that because wind speeds on the bridge differed from those on other roads, the city government should not wait when deciding to shut down the bridge, per UDN. The lanes for bicycles and scooters should be closed first, as the lighter vehicles are more susceptible to strong winds, he said. Criteria should be established to decide at which wind speed, which kind of traffic should be barred from the bridge.
Road safety experts advised against a full closure of the bridge, UDN reported. Instead of surprising drivers and forcing them to search for an alternative route, the authorities should adjust maximum speeds for bridge traffic, experts said.
Speed management was an easier and more flexible way of handling the danger posed by strong winds, the experts said. Drivers would find it easy to adjust their speed in response to official warnings.
