Taipei: The Taipei City government announced its plan to commence the removal of the Gongguan roundabout and the filling in of the bus underpass on September 13, despite opposition from civic groups and city councilors.
According to Focus Taiwan, the project is scheduled for completion in late November and aims to replace the roundabout at Roosevelt Road and Keelung Road with a standard four-way junction controlled by traffic lights. The city's Department of Transportation (DOT) emphasized that this redesign has been backed by studies spanning over two decades and has the support of academics and road safety experts.
Civic groups and road safety activists, who intend to protest on September 12, have argued for retaining and upgrading the roundabout with clearer markings and signage. Taipei City Councilor Miao Po-ya has also raised concerns about the city's evaluation methods, warning that closing the underpass might exacerbate traffic congestion.
DOT Commissioner Hsieh Ming-hong stated that safety remains a top priority. He highlighted that the roundabout, constructed in 1967, has been the leading site for traffic accidents in Taipei for the past seven years. Hsieh explained the necessity of filling the underpass to address structural load issues, noting that while traffic congestion is expected for about two months, alternative routes and real-time traffic monitoring will be implemented.
The project will begin with the sealing and filling in of the underpass over a 44-day period, followed by a 21-day demolition of the roundabout. The DOT stated that the redesign will reduce pedestrian crossing distances by 23 percent, increase walking space, and provide more room for buses at the intersection. Although some concerns have been raised about merging bus lanes with regular traffic, simulations suggest that approximately 60 percent of buses will be able to pass through the intersection when they have a green light.