Alishan Forest Railway Shuishan Line No. 2 Bridge Improvement Project Wins Special Award in Agricultural Construction

(CNA, Chiayi County, June 24) The Ministry of Agriculture held the "114th Excellent Agricultural Construction Project Award" award ceremony today. The Shuishan Line No. 2 Bridge Improvement Project of the Alishan Forest Railway and Cultural Heritage Administration received a special award in the Facility category for preserving cultural landscapes and enhancing recreational value.

The Forest Railway Administration stated in a press release that the Shuishan Line of the Alishan Forest Railway is an important branch line for timber transportation in history, witnessing the development of Taiwan's forestry. However, the Shuishan Line No. 2 Bridge, built in 1931, had severely aged and damaged wooden components due to time and natural decay, endangering the bridge's load-bearing capacity and structural safety. To preserve this cultural landscape and ensure the safety of the railway and pedestrians, an improvement project was initiated in 2024.

The Forest Railway Administration said that the Shuishan Line No. 2 Bridge Improvement Project is characterized by the integration of cultural heritage preservation with modern engineering technology. Considering safety, durability, and historical value, the substructure was designed in the style of historical wooden support trestle bridges, using steel structures in an antique style to replace the pure wooden framework. This significantly enhanced the bridge's safety and ensured its seismic resistance, thereby extending the historical trajectory and showcasing the unique cultural aesthetics of the forest railway.

Furthermore, the improvement project also included the renovation of the Shuishan Platform, enhancing the recreational value of the Shuishan Line and creating a new recreational highlight. It successfully connected the railway trail, forest trail, and forest road, forming a circular trail system rich in historical footprints and natural landscapes, effectively improving the overall tourism quality. It is a perfect combination of cultural heritage preservation, engineering quality, and ecological friendliness.

Another project by the Forest Railway Administration, the restoration of the Luma Chan Station and its surrounding environment, utilized traditional techniques to repair the lime-and-mud walls, preserving the original cypress and hinoki rain boards and partition walls, showcasing Japanese wooden structure characteristics. It also used local stones and planted native vegetation to create a comfortable and artistic courtyard landscape, receiving an honorable mention in the Excellent Agricultural Construction Award.

The Chiayi Branch of the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency won five awards. In the agricultural road and forest road category, two special awards were given for "Phase II Project for the Restoration of Nanshan Forest Road and Remediation of Surrounding Collapsed Areas" and "Improvement Project for Facilities at Zhongxing Seedling Nursery and Scion Garden." In the mountain control and disaster prevention category, the "Nanhua Zhongkeng Sediment Control Project in Area 83, Yujing District" received an honorable mention, and the "Third Phase Project for the Improvement of Drainage in the Niuchou Creek Tianzijiao Area, Zhuqi Township" received an honorable mention. The "Slope Management and Surrounding Landscape Improvement Project Adjacent to Xianglin Service Area" received an honorable mention in the Facility category. (Editor: Li Xizhang) 1150624

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