The Blue Highway is set to launch at the end of the year, with routes available from Tamsui to Banqiao.

By Chi Binghui, compiled and reported

The development of the Blue Highway is a key project in realizing New Taipei City’s “Four Waters New Capital” vision — “managing water, connecting with water, cleaning water, and permeating water” — aiming to achieve the goal of becoming a “city of great rivers.” The city government also stated that the Huajiang and Zhongxiao piers have been completed, and work is being expedited on the section from Taipei Bridge to Huajiang Bridge. The Blue Highway is expected to begin direct service from Tamsui to Huajiang Bridge in Banqiao by the end of this year, completely unaffected by tidal changes.

The “Tamsui River to Dahan River and Xindian River Blue Highway Project” plans to extend the current Tamsui Blue Highway route upstream from Taipei Bridge to Xinhai Bridge on the Dahan River and Zhongzheng Bridge on the Xindian River. In addition to dredging the waterways, the project also includes planning the construction of passenger terminals, docks, service facilities, and berths. Currently, the passenger terminals on both sides of Zhongzheng Bridge have been completed, and those near Xinhai Bridge are also nearing completion.

Zhang Yanguang, Director of the New Taipei City Water Resources Bureau, stated that to shape the visual identity of the pier hubs and align with the city government’s light art project for 13 river-crossing bridges, beautification and lighting designs around the Huajiang and Zhongxiao piers have been completed, with completion scheduled for March next year. Plans are also underway for a pedestrian and bicycle-only river-crossing leisure bridge to enhance public recreational space and experience.