The Danjiang Bridge may limit speeds or close with Typhoon Bavi approaching. 

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Typhoon Bavi is set to make its closest approach to Taiwan on Friday and Saturday, bringing the first major storm test for the newly opened Danjiang Bridge. 

Officials say strong winds could trigger traffic controls. The Transport Ministry’s Highway Bureau estimates average wind speeds may reach level 8 by midday on Friday and rise to level 10 by evening. If thresholds are met, speed limits will be reduced, or sections of the bridge could be closed. At level 10, authorities warn that the bridge could be fully closed. 

Spanning the Tamsui River estuary, the Danjiang Bridge sits in an open, wind-exposed location. Engineers accounted for wind conditions from the start, designing the structure to withstand level 17 winds. 

Fu Chung-lin (傅仲麟), adjunct assistant professor at Tamkang University’s Wind Engineering Research Center, said, “On a cable-stayed bridge like this, once the design process begins, they first run wind tunnel tests to see whether the vibration of the current cross-section will be significant. The outer edge of Danjiang Bridge’s deck is definitely not flat like this; it has a streamlined design so it won’t generate excessive vibration. The bridge towers are also designed to be very streamlined, so the force of the wind on the towers themselves is reduced a little. Even features like these light poles can experience severe vibration in strong winds, so a device similar to a damper is installed at the end to reduce that vibration.”

From streamlined bridge towers to dampers installed on cables and lighting poles, every detail aims to reduce vibration and improve stability. 

As Typhoon Bavi approaches, the bridge’s wind-resistant design is about to face its first real-world challenge.