Lai to witness installation of final Danjiang Bridge piece on Sept. 16

Taipei, Sept. 12 (CNA) President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) will attend a ceremony next Tuesday to mark the installation of the final prefabricated segment of the Danjiang Bridge in New Taipei's Tamsui District, Transportation Minister Chen Shih-kai (陳世凱) announced Friday.

Chen made the remarks during an on-site inspection of the project, which is entering its final construction phase.

According to the Highway Bureau under the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, installation of the last segment is scheduled to start between 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, when high tide is expected to begin.

The final attachment will be completed on Tuesday in the presence of the president.

The bureau said that the dates were chosen because the final piece extends over a shallow section of the Tamsui River, requiring a high tide to allow a floating crane vessel to maneuver into position.

Most of the other bridge segments were connected using the floating crane installation method, in which heavy-lift vessels placed prefabricated pieces into position. The last piece, however, required special timing due to river conditions, the bureau explained.

On Monday, engineers will carry out final calculations, while the crane will move into position with the 390-ton segment, the bureau said. The piece measures 15.2 meters long and 51.3 meters wide.

Chen said Friday that he witnessed the segment being loaded onto the crane, calling the milestone a testament to the project's engineering and construction achievements.

Designed by British firm Zaha Hadid Architects, the Danjiang Bridge is a 920-meter-long primary cable-stayed bridge. Upon completion, it will be the world's longest asymmetric, single-mast bridge.

The late architect Zaha Hadid envisioned the project as a new landmark, blending the bridge into the natural scenery of Tamsui.

Chen said in a radio interview on Thursday that an opening ceremony for the bridge is scheduled for May 9, with the structure expected to open to the public on May 12.