Kaohsiung MRT Yellow Line begins pile removal for Ziqiang Overpass section

Construction has commenced on a critical phase of the Kaohsiung MRT Yellow Line project, involving the removal of underground foundation piles beneath the Ziqiang Overpass in Fengshan District.

The Yellow Line, a significant infrastructure undertaking, spans nearly 23 kilometers and will serve six districts, encompassing 42% of Kaohsiung's population, or approximately 1.16 million people. It is slated to feature 23 stations, integrating with existing Red and Orange lines, as well as future lines and the light rail system, with an anticipated completion date of 2034.

The current work focuses on the section along Chengcing Road in Fengshan District, which will feature four underground stations. The presence of underground bridge piers and foundation piles from the former Ziqiang Overpass has obstructed the path of the tunnel boring machine. To address this, the city government has initiated the pile removal process.

The construction is being managed in three stages to minimize disruption to traffic. The method employed involves breaking the piles using a casing and then extracting them, a technique designed to reduce noise, vibration, and dust. Simultaneously, work is underway on the continuous walls for the Y17 station at the Fengshan Administrative Center. The eastern section of the Y17 station's continuous walls and the removal of the eastern overpass piles are targeted for completion by the end of this year. The project also includes road leveling to ensure the safety of pedestrians and vehicles.

Future phases include the removal of the western piles and the construction of the western continuous walls for the Y17 station, along with an underground passage connecting to the TRA Zhengyi Station. This integrated station is expected to be the first section of the Yellow Line to be completed, with the overall Y17 station structure anticipated by 2028, paving the way for the subsequent tunnel boring operations.