Taiwan’s first drawbridge is slated to open to traffic March 27 in Donggang, Pingtung County, the Tourism Bureau’s Dapeng Bay National Scenic Area Administration said March 10.
“Dapeng Bridge will become a new landmark in the area,” said Hsu Cheng-shiong, head of the administration, adding that it will help attract more tourists to southern Taiwan.
The asymmetrical side-spar compound cable-stayed bridge employs a single tower in its design, with the bridge surface rising 17 meters above the surface of the water.
“The 579-meter-long, 30-meter-wide moveable bridge can be raised to allow high-masted sailboats and other vessels to pass through,” Hsu said. “The raising and lowering process takes about 20 minutes in total.”
In addition, the bridge will be raised regularly at 5 p.m. on Saturdays, Hsu said.
Construction of the bridge took roughly three years to complete at a price tag of NT$1.8 billion (US$61 million).
Hsu pointed out that the bridge is expected to help boost the development of international-level leisure boating activities in Dapeng Bay, a popular water activity destination that sees 700,000 tourists annually. (SB)