By KHT Staff. Image via Riccardo Capobianchi.
KAOHSIUNG — The inner section of Zuoying District’s South Gate Roundabout will close from Sept. 23 as work continues to convert the junction into a conventional intersection.
Cars and scooters will still be able to use the outer lanes during construction, according to a Kaohsiung City Government announcement. The inner section is expected to reopen by the end of October, although work on the wider road project will continue.
The roundabout connects Zuoying Avenue, Jhonghua Road and several surrounding streets near the Old Fongshan City’s historic South Gate. The city plans to replace the existing circular traffic pattern with a signal-controlled intersection, improve sidewalks and landscaping, and reorganize vehicle movements.
The South Gate, a national historic site, will remain in place.
The redesign is part of the southern extension of the new Provincial Highway 17, not a stand-alone roundabout project. The new road will eventually connect the coastal route through Nanzih and Zuoying with the existing road network at South Gate Roundabout.
According to the Kaohsiung Transportation Bureau, traffic passing through the junction during peak hours is projected to rise from about 850 vehicles to 2,000 after the new highway opens. The city expects the route to draw between 30% and 50% of traffic currently using Cueihua Road.
The completed intersection will provide three lanes in each direction. Part of the former roundabout area will also be developed into a pedestrian plaza connecting the South Gate with other sections of the Old Fongshan City historic area. Plans include improved walking routes and 52 off-street parking spaces.
During the closure, motorists entering the outer roundabout should slow down and yield to vehicles already circulating. Drivers should avoid changing lanes abruptly and move into the outside lane before exiting.
The city advised motorists to follow temporary signs, traffic signals, and instructions from personnel at the site.
