The government has ordered agencies in charge of bridge maintenance to submit plans for the inspection of old bridges. That’s after a 21-year-old bridge in Yilan County collapsed into a fishing harbor Tuesday, killing six.
On Thursday, President Tsai Ing-wen that plans should be submitted quickly, and that work will begin as soon as possible to repair any bridges that need to be strengthened in the short term
Meanwhile, Premier Su Tseng-chang has instructed the transportation ministry to review its system for inspecting bridges that come under its purview. In particular, Su told the ministry to reevaluate the way it inspects bridges that have been hit by landslides, bridges with unconventional structures, and bridges that are near the ocean and subject to corrosive forces.
In addition, Su told the ministry to inspect bridges that have not been checked for some time, and to reinforce bridges immediately if they need strengthening.