A 40-Year-Old Roundabout Outside Zhubei Station Becomes a Pedestrian Refuge Island

A roundabout that stood outside Zhubei railway station for more than 40 years has been transformed into a landscaped refuge island for pedestrians.

The roundabout at the intersection of Bo'ai Street and Zhongshan Road was built in 1983. As Zhubei’s urban area expanded and traffic increased, the old layout no longer met the needs of people-centered transportation, according to the Zhubei City Office.

The renovated space now contains a triangular flower bed of about 100 square meters. The redesign improves drivers’ sightlines and adds pedestrian passageways and a refuge area, creating a safer barrier for people crossing the intersection. Local residents and nearby businesses have responded favorably to the combination of practical and visual improvements.

Zhubei Mayor Cheng Chao-fang said the old urban district marked the starting point of the city’s development, while the area around the station brought pedestrians and vehicles into frequent contact. Before the work began, the city office consulted widely and obtained approval from the original donors to incorporate existing columns donated by former civic representative assembly chairman Lin Chi-hsien and the Lions Club.

The project is part of Zhubei’s “old city transformation” effort. Recent work has included improvements to Zhongzheng East Road, Sanmin Road and the Zhonghe underground passage, as well as upgrades to the Fude branch library, Fude Plaza, Renyi Market and the pedestrian route to Ren'ai Junior High School. Improvements to the Sanmin Road pedestrian underpass are nearing completion, while two culverts on Fuzhu Street are next in line.