Taiwan International Ports Corporation, Ltd.

The Port of Keelung West Access Roadway Project, executed by the Keelung City Government on behalf of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) and begun over six years ago in September 2010, is scheduled to be opened to vehicle traffic on April 16^th with the final completion and inspection of related overpass structures. Once opened, trucks and other vehicles from the Port of Keelung’s western port district will no longer need to pass through city streets in order to access the national highway grid. Completion of this project will not only speed cargoes to and from the port but also reduce traffic congestion in Keelung City.

This project, which includes a 965m-long elevated overpass and 1,352m of connecting surface roadway, was constructed at a cost of NT$1.412 billion that was paid for from the national port construction fund. The roadway route begins at the off ramp of the original West Port (Gangxi) overpass on National Freeway 1 and connects into Zhongshan 1^st Road after crossing over the Zhongshan Bridge. Project construction coincided with major work on two city roads, Zhongshan 1^st and Zhongshan 2^nd Roads, which have respectively been expanded to 40m-wide roadways with 10m-wide center lanes.

The prolonged nature of this project was due to the close proximity of residential buildings, the need to demolish a number of these buildings and relocate its residents, and the technical difficulties of connecting the overpass into the continually busy national highway. To mark the successful conclusion of this project, Keelung City Mayor Lin Yu-chang has invited MOTC and Ministry of the Interior officials to join his government in an April 16^th ceremony to mark the opening of the Gangxi Access Road to traffic. This new road connects the Port of Keelung’s western port district directly into National Freeway 1. Taking the Gangxi Access Road will shave 10 minutes off of the time previously required to cover the same distance, significantly improving the Port of Keelung’s connection to the national highway grid while reducing congestion on Keelung City streets.

Contact: Engineering Division, Port of Keelung, TIPC   Ping-chun Ho, Manager

02-2420-6308 / 0963-222-549   pcho@twport.com.tw