Changfu Bridge opens as New Taipei's fifth scenic walkway
TAIPEI (TVBS News) — When the Sanxia River overflowed during Typhoon Soudelor (蘇迪勒颱風) in 2015, floodwaters surged past the old Changfu Bridge. The disaster exposed a critical weakness in New Taipei City's flood defenses. A NT$919 million (around US$28.3 million) reconstruction has since transformed the vulnerable crossing into a modern pedestrian landmark designed to withstand a once-in-a-century flood.
The reconstructed Changfu Bridge (長福橋) officially opened to pedestrians on Oct. 2 in the historic Sanxia District (三峽區). New Taipei Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜) attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony. The following breakdown explains how the project addresses decades of flood risk while preserving local heritage.
The original Changfu Bridge sat too low over the Sanxia River (三峽河), a 28.5-kilometer (17.7-mile) tributary of the Dahan River. During Typhoons Soulik (蘇拉颱風) and Soudelor, the river overflowed its banks. The old bridge's insufficient deck height restricted water flow. Its two concrete piers also suffered scouring — erosion caused by fast-moving water that undermines structural foundations.
The Water Resources Agency (水利署), Taiwan's central water management authority, designated the bridge as a priority reconstruction project.
The reconstruction addresses vulnerabilities through three key engineering changes. The new bridge raises the deck height, reduces bridge piers from two to one, and sets back the right-bank abutment. These modifications increase the water flow cross-section by approximately 18 percent. The upgrade achieves a 100-year return period flood protection standard, meaning the structure is engineered to handle the most severe flood statistically expected once per century.
Water Resources Department Director Sung Te-jen (宋德仁) said the bridge deck width has been expanded from 15 meters (49 feet) to 25 meters (82 feet).
"The bridge width increased about 2.7 times total — roughly equivalent to adding five basketball courts," Sung said. "Future recreational activities, even temple festival events, can all be held on top."
The bridge's asymmetrical double-arch steel structure draws inspiration from Yuanshan (鳶山), or Kite Mountain. Mayor Hou described the design as resembling an eagle soaring over the river.
"[The new bridge] can also allow our Zushi Temple, with its 257 years of history, to coexist with innovation," Hou said. "This is not an easy thing to achieve."
The design incorporates local cultural elements. These include two canopy structures with bird and cloud patterns based on indigo-dye motifs — a nod to Sanxia's historic textile industry. Mountain-shaped railings and small stone lions from the old bridge repurposed as decorative lanterns complete the design. The bridge pavement incorporates flowing water imagery inspired by the Sanxia River.
The central government's Water Resources Agency subsidized NT$450 million (around US$13.9 million) for the main bridge. New Taipei City funded the remaining NT$469 million (around US$14.5 million).
Planning began in 2020 and involved over four years of preparation, according to the Water Resources Department. The department held nine public meetings and 26 borough warden site inspections.
The old bridge was demolished in April 2024. A temporary pedestrian bridge maintained commercial passage during construction.
Overall construction progress stands at approximately 83 percent, with ongoing work on the Anxi Road (安溪路) levee-top walkway and waterfront landscape projects.
The reconstructed bridge will connect Sanxia Old Street (三峽老街), the Sanxia River and bicycle paths, serving as a new gateway for tourism. The bridge becomes New Taipei City's fifth pedestrian scenic bridge, combining flood control and recreational functions as a waterfront lifestyle corridor. ◼ (At time of reporting, US$1 equals approximately NT$32.42)