Sinfa Bridge, devastated by Typhoon Morakot in August 2009, reopened for traffic in Kaohsiung City June 4.
“The completion of the bridge is a milestone for Morakot reconstruction efforts,” ROC President Ma Ying-jeou said at the inauguration ceremony. “The bridge can help improve traffic conditions, boost tourism and relevant industries in the Liugui district and the Baolai area.”
“We hope through the opening of the bridge, people can know the region has recovered,” said Chern Jenn-chuan, deputy CEO of the Morakot Post-Disaster Reconstruction Council, adding that some activities will be held to introduce local agricultural products and aboriginal culture to the wider world.
According to Teng Wen-kuang, a director with the Directorate General of Highways under the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, Typhoon Morakot brought record-breaking rainfall exceeding 2,500 millimeters. “Sinfa Bridge, the only way to get to Liugui, was completely washed away,” Teng said.
Constructed by China Steel Corp., the new bridge was built at a cost of NT$500 million (US$17.2 million) in just 17 months. “Erected on a laccolith and with spans widened from 40 meters to 150 meters, the bridge’s ability to withstand floods and earthquakes has been strengthened,” Teng pointed out, adding that Sinfa Bridge can now withstand a magnitude 6 earthquake.
“The piers have also been attached with steel boards, which function as a protection against driftwood and stones,” Teng said.
According to Wang Yuan-chin, general manager of CSC’s Civil Engineering Department, challenges met in constructing the bridge include impassable roads, building piers in the middle of a river with rapid flow and lifting more than 3,600 tons of steel truss bridge over the piers.
“Soil mixing wall and caisson construction methods were used,” he added.
The new bridge, measuring 465 meters long and 13 meters wide, is 237 meters longer and 4 meters wider than its former self. (HZW)
Write to Grace Kuo at morningk@mail.gio.gov.tw