New Construction Office

Since the reconstruction of Zhongzheng Bridge, connecting Zhongzheng District in Taipei and Yonghe District in New Taipei City, began on May 6, 2019, engineers have been actively catching up with schedule. The part of the lifting section of the new steel arch has been suspended, as well as convergence of onsite support parts of the arch rib at Taipei and New Taipei City have been completed a few days ago. Later on, workers will rush the relevant operations in order to switch the route from Taipei to New Taipei City at the end of September 2023. Cars will take the new bridge instead of Zhongzheng Bridge, then the rest of the reconstruction of the new bridge may be implemented, and cars may still take Zhongzheng Bridge when driving from New Taipei City to Taipei.

Hsiao Chih Lung, Section Chief of the Construction Section, New Construction Office, Public Works Department, Taipei City Government, indicated that for the lifting method of the steel arch rib adopted for the steel bridge of this project, all steel parts of the lifting section of the upper section of steel arch rib are assembled on the top of the skinplate of the steel bridge that has been completed onsite in advance. Next, through the arch rib of onsite support section suspended on both sides of the steel arch bridge, eight hydraulic equipment of vertical hollow jack and four hydraulic equipment of hollow jack installed below the arch rib of lifting section pulled vertically for preventing deformation when lifting the arch rib, are installed on top of the bridge rib at Taipei and New Taipei City. The steel strand in the hollow jack is used to gradually lift the assembled steel arch rib of lifting section, with the horizontal length of about 107.5 m and weight of bout 1,800 tons, into position. The steel arch rib of lifting section and the arch rib of onsite support section suspended on both sides of the steel arch bridge have been converged to complete the overall installation of the steel arch rib.

Hsiao Chih Lung explained that this project is a three-point steel arch bridge with the largest span in Taiwan. The widest part of the bridge is about 46 m. The installation method used for the main bridge is used for the steel arch bridge in Taiwan for the first time, besides the pinch and push of concentric curve of the main beam completed on October 26, 2022, and the lifting method of steel arch rib used recently. The span of the steel arch rib of the project is 215 m and the arch rise is 50 m. After using the lifting method above, the working height is lowered from about 50 m to 17 m, significantly reducing the risk of working at height. Not only is the safety of the engineer ensured, but the weight of support frame and the number of large cranes, such as hoist, can also be reduced. Movement of engineering car onsite and construction route are improved effectively. A friendlier workplace has been provided to workers.

Chan Ming Cheng, the director of the Dayun Engineering Office, New Construction Office, pointed out that the main segment assembly of lifting section of arch rib has been completed on May 29, 2023. With regards to the segment of the lifting section, pulling of horizontal steel wire rope and slight lifting of arch rib of lifting section have been implemented since June 12. The lifting section on Taipei’s side and New Taipei City’s side has been elevated by about 0.96 m and 7.965 m on the same day, respectively. The height mentioned here is the targeted elevation. The overall arch has been adjusted and then both sides of the arch rib have been lifted synchronously. Both sides of the arch rib were lifted to about 29 m until they converged; convergence was completed smoothly on June 18. 

At last, Chan Ming Cheng explained that welding of the convergence area of lifting section, installation of the steel wire rope connecting the steel arch and steel bridge skinplate, demolishment of support frame, and asphalt laying of skinplate of the new bridge are yet to be completed for this project. After cars start to take the new bridge when driving from Taipei to New Taipei City at the end of September, Zhongzheng Bridge and the approach span heading toward Taipei at Taipei’ side may be torn down. Demolishment and reconstruction later on would be inconvenient for the neighborhood, more or less. He apologizes to and appreciates the great support from local community residents, village chiefs and public representatives, who allow the New Construction Office to catch up with the schedule through all efforts. The New Construction Office hopes to create a better future for Taipei and New Taipei City, together with them!