Building the 'Golden Cross Axis,' Advancing Toward 'Seven Lines Concurrent Development' — Groundbreaking of Taichung Metro Blue Line BC11 Section

Construction of the Taichung Metro Blue Line is progressing steadily. The BC11 section, symbolizing the backbone of the Blue Line's route, successfully concluded its tender process in July this year. On the 12th, Taichung City Government held a groundbreaking and blessing ceremony for the 'Taichung Metro Blue Line Construction Project BC11 Civil and Facility Electromechanical Works,' with Mayor Lu Hsiu-yen leading the city administration team, local legislators, engineering teams, and community leaders in prayers for a safe and smooth construction process.

Mayor Lu emphasized that the Blue Line is a major transportation artery connecting Taichung’s coastal areas with the urban core. Spanning 24.78 kilometers with 20 planned stations, the line will eventually extend to the Tun District, intersecting with the Green Line to form a 'Golden Cross Axis.'

Lu stressed, 'Projects that haven’t started must start; those that haven’t finished must be completed!' She noted that in recent years, the city administration has actively overcome bottlenecks. Following the groundbreaking of electromechanical and depot works last year, the successful launch of BC11 marks another milestone. Two additional sections covering five stations have already been tendered, with construction expected to commence consecutively by the end of this year. Meanwhile, the design of Blue Line train cars has entered its final phase, with three design options to be unveiled next month for public voting—demonstrating the city’s determination to accelerate Blue Line construction.

Regarding the massive scale of the Blue Line project and its budget, Mayor Lu pointed out that the city is self-funding nearly 60% of the costs. Despite rising material and labor costs, the city remains fully committed to securing the necessary budget. A dedicated 'Rapid Transit Bureau' has been established to oversee metro network planning and construction, advancing toward the vision of 'Seven Lines Concurrent Development,' including the Shan Line, Orange Line, and Purple Line.

Mayor Lu further revealed that the city is currently evaluating the feasibility of a 'partial opening' model, aiming to bring certain sections into early operation to meet the commuting, school, and medical travel needs of coastal and沿线 residents. To allow the public to experience the future metro system early, a 6-kilometer community walk was held last week along the route from Taichung Port to Tong General Hospital, attracting over 1,000 local participants who enjoyed the scenic preview.

According to Rapid Transit Bureau Director Su Jui-wen, the BC11 section is located at the western coastal elevated segment of the Blue Line, spanning approximately 2.49 kilometers. The project includes elevated bridges, civil construction and electromechanical works for three elevated stations, and related ancillary facilities. The project budget is approximately NT$11.958 billion, with a contract duration of 1,950 calendar days. The construction team will hold local community briefings to explain construction plans and traffic maintenance measures, actively listening to public concerns and minimizing disruptions while building local consensus. Upcoming tasks include land right handover, surveying, street tree relocation, utility line relocation, and construction fencing—each phase to be executed sequentially according to the construction plan and site conditions.

The Bureau noted that the BC11 construction zone lies within a critical transportation corridor along the coastal area, involving existing roads, vegetation, and underground utilities. The city will continue coordinating with relevant agencies, utility providers, and local stakeholders to carefully plan construction phases and traffic management measures. Strict enforcement of site safety, environmental protection, and construction quality controls will be implemented to minimize impacts on local traffic and residents’ daily lives. Additionally, the Bureau will continuously monitor BC11’s progress per contract and approved plans, urging the construction team to ensure seamless coordination between work phases, steadily advancing Blue Line construction while balancing safety, quality, and local traffic needs.