TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Nanfang'ao Bridge in Yilan County officially opened to the public on Sunday (Dec. 18) to the delight of local residents who were seen taking photos as they walked on the bridge following its collapse 3 years ago.
At the ceremony, President Tsai Ing-wen and other officials celebrated the bridge's opening, cutting the ribbon during the opening ceremony.
The bridge was rebuilt after it collapsed in October 2019, killing six migrant workers, and injuring 13 other people.
On the day of the bridge's opening, an oil tank driver who was on the bridge at the moment of the collapse was also invited back to witness the new unveiling.
Speaking to TVBS, he shared that though he was quite shaken before, his optimism has led him through the tough times, adding that he is currently in a healthy mental state.
The new bridge is 796 meters in length and 13 meters wide. It has also been reinforced to withstand huge earthquakes and possible corrosion within the structure.
The bridge is also shaped like a fish when viewed from afar as a tribute to the local fishing port town, and is expected to help in reviving the local economy, traffic and tourism.
