Gongguan roundabout removal may be done in 1 month: Taipei official

Taipei, Sept. 13 (CNA) The removal of the Gongguan roundabout to make way for a controlled intersection may be finished within one month, Taipei Deputy Mayor Lee Shu-chuan (李四川) said Saturday.

The project, originally scheduled to take 65 days, is likely to be shortened significantly thanks to the cooperation of eight ready-mix concrete plants, Lee told reporters during an onsite inspection.

According to the Taipei City government, the first stage involves filling in the underground bus lane that runs beneath the roundabout at the intersection of Roosevelt Road and Keelung Road. That part of the project is estimated to take 44 days, with the work being carried out from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. daily.

After that stage, the demolition of the roundabout will be completed in 21 days, on a daily work schedule of 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Since the project kicked off at 11:35 p.m. Friday, buses that previously used the underpass are now running on the surface lanes instead, he said.

As traffic congestion is expected in the area for the duration of the project, commuters are advised to take the MRT, Lee said.

In March, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) announced that the city government would remove the Gongguan roundabout, saying that it had been the leading site in Taipei for traffic accidents each year since 2018.

The project began Saturday amid protests by civic groups and students from National Taiwan University, National Taiwan Normal University, and National Chengchi University, many of whom commute by bus in the area. The protesters dispersed at around 12:30 p.m.

Lee said the city government expects criticism of the project but is committed to ensuring public safety.