The first section that has reopened is a marked improvement on what was there before. The city is asking residents to bear with the inconveniences of construction from now through about June, when hopefully the entire sections on both sides of the river will reopen.

By Eryk Michael Smith / Staff. Images via KH City Govt. KAOHSIUNG — A former railway maintenance complex in Kaohsiung is being…

Plans call for three towers rising 28 and 31 stories above ground with four basement levels. The development will combine office space, a business hotel, retail shops, and residential units in what officials describe as a mixed-use landmark integrating commercial services with sports and recreation facilities. Construction is expected to begin in August 2027 and be completed by October 2033.

The NT$610 million Nanzihkeng facility is the flagship project for North Kaohsiung. Located near the Nanzih Interchange, the 8,932-square-meter building is positioned to support the influx of workers from the TSMC Kaohsiung Plant and the surrounding semiconductor S-corridor.

City officials said the road upgrades will make it easier and safer for both residents and tourists to reach the lake’s cycling paths and lakeside walking trails, further strengthening the area’s role as a recreation and eco-tourism destination.

Activists say roughly 100 hectares of forest surrounding the historic sugar factory are an important “urban lung” for Kaohsiung while also providing flood-retention capacity.

JJP Architects & Planners (JJP潘冀聯合建築師事務所) has reportedly won the top prize in the design competition for the Chiayi City Main Library Complex (嘉義市總圖園區), with a proposal that draws on the city’s timber heritage, Alishan forestry history, and the winding form of the Alishan Forest Railway.

Kaohsiung’s Red Line already includes two stations widely praised for their design — Formosa Boulevard Station, famous for its Dome of Light installation, and Central Park Station, known for its distinctive modern architecture. Some civic leaders argue that the Yellow Line should strive for a similar international standard in station design and public art.

The Light Rail is currently operating at roughly 60% of its total designed capacity. This, however, is mostly due to it not having enough trains. Fleet expansions scheduled over the next two to three years are expected to provide significant growth in ridership numbers.

According to project details circulated online, the redevelopment will eliminate the existing roundabout and replace it with a U-shaped two-way road system. The new design will also introduce four signalized intersections in the station-front area. Public transportation routes will also be reorganized. Up to 32 bus routes are expected to be adjusted, with stops relocated to nearby streets, including Chenggong Road and Zhongshan Road.
City planners say the station forecourt will ultimately become a large pedestrian plaza combined with a modern transfer center linking trains, buses, taxis, bicycles, and other forms of shared transportation.