140 metres, 268 culverts and con- duits. 196 metres of overflow pave- ment, and 26.000 square metres of retaining walls.
Although modern equipment in- cluding bulldozers, power shovels and rollers was widely used on the pro- ject. the former servicemen who supplied the work force had to do much of their work with primitive implements because of the adverse working conditions. Without their determination to force the project through in spite of everything the road could not have been completed.
Daily supplies had to be carried by porters from points miles away from the work places. Water was scarce on several stretches, particularly un- contaminated water for drinking. Landslides were the chief enemy of the workmen and large casualties re- sulted from them, including technical supervising personnel, in spite of the fact that the workmen devised many schemes for taking shelter from the falls. Frequent earth tremors and tor- rential rains added to the difficulties.
Apart from the road itself which goes through some of the most dif- ficult mountain territory in the world with all the attendant solutions neces- sary,
the chief feature of
the
Suspension bridge built to carry the highway over a gorge at Fuhsing
Northern Cross-Island Highway is the three bridges, all designed by resident Chinese engineers using the newest engineering concepts.
sideration. The two suspension bridges are the longest single-span bridges constructed by the Chinese in Taiwan. The steel arch bridge is the All three are situated at difficult first steel bridge of all-welded con- and dangerous gorges never before struction erected in the country. crossed, making the choice of site and Added merit must be given when the type of bridge a matter of deep con- limited equipment and personnel
Work in progress in the mountains of Taipeh Hsien
Suspension bridge over a river at Pa-Ling
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Far East Architect & Builder March, 1967
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