NEW TAIPEI (TVBS News) — New Taipei City faces severe traffic congestion during peak commuting hours, like in Tamsui. The issue has led to significant delays and emergency vehicles, including ambulances, getting stuck in traffic.
The city recently opened a bidding process to construct a new road to address this issue. Unfortunately, no manufacturer has stepped forward to take on the project due to a shortage of labor and materials.
The situation has raised concerns about how the city can effectively tackle its traffic issues and improve emergency response times.
Chang Lian-rong, the founder of the Danbei Road Alliance, said, "if the transportation issue is not resolved, the development of Tamsui's future, including plans for creating a science and technology park, will be in jeopardy."
He added: "The area's population continues to grow, exacerbating the traffic problem. Without proper transportation solutions, it is unlikely that businesses or individuals will be willing to invest in the area."
New Taipei City's ambitious Danbei Road project, with a budget of almost NT$4.5 billion, has hit a roadblock due to concerns from manufacturers that the funding is insufficient and the availability of experienced workers is low.
To address these issues, officials are reportedly considering increasing the budget and adjusting the construction plan or contract to secure a suitable contractor for the job by the end of the year.
Despite these efforts, the construction industry must grapple with a significant labor shortage, which remains a major challenge for construction projects in Taiwan.
"The lack of construction workers and materials is not the only issue. Many construction factories have also reported that the lack of engineers has caused them to feel helpless about the situation," said Wang Yi-hsiang, the director of the New Taipei City New Construction Department
"After graduation, construction department students will decide to work in other industries; for example, they may go to related technology industries," Wang added.
Working at construction sites is grueling and dangerous, particularly during hot summer days. Despite offering higher wages, the younger generation shows little enthusiasm for careers in this field.
As a result, Taiwan relies heavily on foreign labor to fill this demand.
"A decline in the number of workers in the construction industry has resulted in a shift towards more specialized roles, with workers only able to perform specific tasks," Wang continued.
"In the past, construction sites typically had 20 to 30 workers, but now the average is 10 to 20 workers per site," he went on. "This shortage of qualified workers has impacted the ability to undertake complex projects, with quality workmanship often lacking."
"Consequently, multiple groups of workers may be needed to complete a project, further exacerbating the issue," he lamented.
The prolonged delay of public works poses a grim outlook for the public's well-being and the economy. Should this trend continue, Taiwan's national competitiveness is at risk of gradual decline.