The southbound lanes between Wudu and Xizhi exits on Freeway No. 1 reopened Tuesday afternoon after a landslide earlier in the day caused severe traffic disruptions in parts of northern Taiwan, according to the Freeway Bureau.
The debris and traffic sign damaged in the landslide, around the 10.1 kilometer mark near the Xizhi interchange in New Taipei, was removed by 3:47 p.m., allowing vehicles to pass, the bureau said.
However, the Xizhi interchange remains closed as reconstruction work continues, the bureau said, urging motorists who want to go to Xizhi to exit at Wudu, or alternatively use Freeway No. 3 and local roads.
The landslide took place at around 11:15 a.m. after part of an embankment that is 30 meters high and 100 meters long collapsed onto the freeway connecting Keelung and Kaohsiung, according to the bureau.
No one was hurt, but the incident resulted in a 5-kilometer-long tailback, the bureau said, adding that it is currently unable to say when the interchange will be fully reopened.
The landslide occurred after days of heavy rain in Taiwan, which has caused sporadic traffic disruptions across the country.
For example, Pingxi railway line operated by Taiwan Railways Administration suspended operations from 10:40 a.m. Monday to midnight Tuesday as a precaution, while safety checks are conducted.
The railway line runs through Ruifang and Pingxi Districts in New Taipei.
Several landslides were also reported blocking roads on Orchid Island off southeastern Taiwan, as the island saw 200 millimeters of rainfall in just three hours overnight Monday, according to the local township office.
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel