Kaohsiung Expands Transfer Routes at Science and Technology Museum Station with New Sidewalk on Xianzheng Road

(Central News Agency, Kaohsiung, 21st, reporter Tsai Meng-yu) To improve pedestrian convenience for school commutes, hospital visits, and transfers around the National Science and Technology Museum, the Kaohsiung City Government's Public Works Bureau has received a central government subsidy to build a 350-meter-long physical sidewalk on Xianzheng Road in Lingya District. Construction has already begun and is expected to be completed before the Lunar New Year next year. Xianzheng Road is one of the community access roads in the Science and Technology Museum's living area. The area is primarily residential and is close to the Kaohsiung Special School, Kaixuan Elementary School, Daoming High School, and Sheng-Kung Hospital. It also connects to the Light Rail, the TRA Science and Technology Museum Station, and the Railway Green Corridor. The road has high traffic flow and transfer demand, but the lack of existing sidewalks poses a safety risk. In a press release today, the Kaohsiung Public Works Bureau stated that its Maintenance Engineering Office, which has previously renovated sidewalks on Jiuru 1st Road, Dashun Road, Leren Road, and Jianguo 1st Road, has again received a central subsidy to add a 350-meter-long physical sidewalk on Xianzheng Road (from Dashun 3rd Road to Lane 138, Xianzheng Road) in Lingya District. The Maintenance Engineering Office explained that the project will involve creating new pedestrian spaces on both sides with concrete, installing accessible ramps and setback crosswalks in line with pedestrian flow. Existing facilities such as streetlights, traffic signal poles, and electrical boxes will be moved outward and integrated, and parking bays will also be established. The total project cost is approximately NT$25.31 million. Construction has recently started and will be completed before the Lunar New Year next year. Furthermore, to minimize the impact on the surrounding area, the construction will proceed in stages by street block. The public is reminded to pay attention to relevant warning signs and traffic guidance and to slow down when passing through the construction zone. The Maintenance Engineering Office noted that sidewalk improvement projects are also planned for nearby areas, including Jiuru 1st Road (from Zhongshan Freeway to Pingdeng Road) in Sanmin District and Wumiao Road (from Fude 2nd Road to Dashun 3rd Road) in Lingya District, which will be carried out successively. (Editor: Kuan Chung-wei)