Light rail ridership exceeded 7.21 million trips during the first half of 2026, rising from 6.66 million during the same period last year, according to Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Corp. The total was also higher than the 6.58 million passenger trips recorded during the first six months of 2024.

The Donggang festival is held once every three years and is recognized as an important national folk custom. It is one of Pingtung County’s largest religious events. The wooden King Boat measures almost 47 Taiwanese feet, or about 14 meters, and cost approximately NT$13.8 million, the county government said.

The nearby light rail crossing adds another complication. Drivers said trips that would normally take about 10 minutes have taken more than 30 minutes during peak periods when vehicle queues coincide with passing light rail trains and traffic signals.

Jhongjheng Road was once known as Kaohsiung’s “financial street,” Mayor Chen said. The city hopes the redevelopment, together with nearby projects, will help revive the old city center and strengthen demand for A-grade office space. The former council building was completed in 1966 and served as an important site for Kaohsiung’s local politics before the 2010 city-county merger. After the merger, the city council moved to its current location in Fongshan District (鳳山).

The site is expected to reopen in September if work proceeds smoothly. The renovation period is expected to take about 45 to 60 days.

The bridge had been expected to open by the end of June. The bureau said rain from the outer bands of Typhoon Mekkhala (米克拉) delayed some important work at the site. Officials said the bridge is now expected to be fully open to traffic by mid-July if work proceeds smoothly, adding that safety and construction quality would take priority.

For the long term, Lai said the city should evaluate a 24-hour offshore airport near the waters off the Nansing Project Area (南星計畫區). He said an offshore site could reduce the effect of nighttime takeoffs and landings on urban neighborhoods while supporting international cargo and long-haul routes.

The Ministry of Transportation and Communications Freeway Bureau (交通部高速公路局) on Wednesday issued a second tender for the C705S Siaogang section (小港路段), with a budget of more than NT$17.9 billion. The section is considered important because it is near the port end of the planned freeway, which is intended to improve freight movement and reduce congestion on National Freeway No. 1 and major roads in Greater Kaohsiung.

Lee Skluzak assumes duties as branch chief on July 2, while Harry R. Thompson will serve as deputy branch chief with responsibility for economic and consular affairs, AIT said.

There has also been growing cooperation between expat groups in northern and southern Taiwan. Te’Qin Windham, chair of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Taiwan (CanCham), told KHT she was looking forward to this weekend’s event and was pleased to work with the American Chamber of Commerce in Kaohsiung to help bring Canada Day activities to southern Taiwan.