Kaohsiung Mayor Admits Bridge Railings Are 'Terrible,' Compares Them to Motorcycle Parts

Kaohsiung's Jiuru Bridge is scheduled to open today at 11 a.m., following an accelerated construction timeline. The bridge faced controversy over its initial "torii gate"-style guardrails, prompting authorities to repaint them white before the opening. Despite the expedited completion, the official opening ceremony has been canceled.

Mayor Chen Chi-mai acknowledged the subpar quality of the bridge's railings, admitting they were "terrible, like motorcycle parts" and that he felt embarrassed by their design. The NT$560 million (approximately $17 million USD) project, which began in August 2024, was originally slated for completion by the end of the year but was finished by late July to ease traffic flow between the Gushan and Sanmin districts.

Chen emphasized that completing the bridge sooner would minimize inconvenience for residents. He stated that the construction team worked diligently to achieve the early opening. Addressing the controversy surrounding the railings, the mayor stressed the importance of adhering to engineering standards for public infrastructure, both in demolition and new construction.

"The bridge itself is well-built, but the railing design is poor," Chen lamented, noting that the constant criticism from the public was embarrassing. He has instructed the Public Works Bureau to explore design adjustments to improve the aesthetics. Comparing the situation to a surgery where the internal work is excellent but the final stitching of the skin is poor, he argued that aesthetic improvements are necessary for public satisfaction. "If something is bad, we must admit it. We must face the problem and solve it; that is the attitude of people who get things done," he added, thanking citizens for their input.