Taipei residents should be prepared for serious traffic congestion around the Xinsheng overpass (新生高架橋) starting today as its southbound side and a section of the northbound side will be closed until Sept. 30 for repairs, the Taipei City Government said yesterday.
The southbound side of the overpass from the Yuanshan (圓山) approach road to Jinan Road and the northbound side from Minsheng E Road to the approach road will be closed from today as Taipei City’s New Construction Department replaces the approach road with an entrance ramp.
Fang Yang-ning (方仰寧), director of Taipei City Police Department’s Traffic Division, encouraged drivers heading to Shilin (士林) and western areas of Beitou (北投) to take alternate routes using Chengde, Chongqing N or Huanhe N roads. Drivers heading for Dazhi (大直) and eastern areas of Beitou can take Beian, Fuxing N or Minquan E roads, or use the Jianguo overpass.
Heavy traffic is also expected on Zhongshan N Road between Jiantan and Minzu E roads, and drivers should take alternative routes at peak hours between 8am to 9am and from 6pm to 7pm, he said.
Fang said about 3,000 cars travel on the overpass during rush hour every day. Traffic control will be especially enforced on roads heading toward Shilin, Tamsui (淡水) and Dazhi to help traffic flow.
Wu Chun-hsien (吳俊賢), director of the construction department, said the work would ease congestion in the Yuanshan area, a major transfer center for traffic to Shilin, Beitou and Neihu (內湖). Drivers will be able to travel more directly to Shilin and Beitou from Zhongshan N Road, Wu said.
For more information, visit the Department of Transportation’s Web site at dot.taipei.gov.tw.
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