MOTC: Terminal 3, Airport MRT A14 Construction Prioritized, Airline Fit-outs Later

Taipei, Jul. 9 (CNA) Minister of Transportation and Communications Chen Shih-kai stated on Facebook that Taoyuan International Airport's Terminal 3 and Airport MRT Station A14 are crucial national gateway projects, with a target completion and opening by the end of next year. He emphasized that Taoyuan International Airport Corporation must take responsibility to prioritize the terminal and MRT infrastructure construction, with airline fit-out requirements to be arranged subsequently.

Taoyuan International Airport's Terminal 3 was designed by the team of British architect Richard Rogers, a recipient of the Pritzker Architecture Prize. The main structure incorporates numerous Taiwanese elements, with its double-curved, wave-like roof echoing Taiwan's oceanic and cloud sea imagery, and its 16 giant pillars inspired by the common banyan trees in Taiwan. Completion is expected by the end of 2027.

Chen Shih-kai visited the construction site of Airport MRT Station A14 (Terminal 3 Station) yesterday, conducting an on-site interface review with Taoyuan International Airport Corporation, the Railway Bureau, and the private construction teams. He posted on Facebook that Terminal 3 and Airport MRT Station A14 are vital national gateway projects for Taiwan and long-awaited major undertakings for many citizens. He acknowledged the project's difficulty, citing labor and material shortages, as well as the need to coordinate multiple construction crews working simultaneously, stressing that close cooperation at every stage is essential to maintain progress.

Chen Shih-kai issued three directives. First, to clarify the progress schedule, with the goal of completion by the end of next year. He stated there is no room for ambiguity in the project, canceling all vague terms like "under rolling review" and focusing solely on the target of opening by the end of 2027. He demanded that the team precisely work backward from this schedule to set the construction timeline for each phase.

Second, he called for the integration of complex interfaces and the prioritization of infrastructure construction. He instructed Taoyuan International Airport Corporation to assume overall coordination responsibility, streamline workflows, and reserve construction space for frontline operations. "Terminal and MRT infrastructure construction" is to be designated the top priority, with individual airline fit-out requirements to be arranged afterward.

Third, addressing the labor shortage challenge, Chen announced a full reinforcement of construction crews starting in August. Regarding the slow growth of crews in the preceding months, specific coordination was completed on-site. It is anticipated that after the gradual completion of works in August, main construction crews and personnel will be deployed to maximize construction momentum.

The Ministry of Transportation and Communications stated that during the initial operational phase after opening, to balance construction schedules and operational quality, they will cooperate with the MRT and other units, adopting a steady strategy of gradually increasing capacity. (Editor: Huang Ming-hsi) 1150709

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