Deputy Mayor Lin Chin-jung, who is concerned about the Kaohsiung Metro Gangshan-Lujhu Extension Project’s construction progress, paid a visit to the Gangshan-Lujhu Extension RK1 Gangshan Station today (1/12) to conduct an onsite inspection and hear a construction progress briefing. Gangshan Station, entrance and exit structures, track-laying operations, erection of route segments, and other operations have already been completed as part of the RK1 engineering project. In addition, the electromechanical system has been tested alongside the EMU, and the overall progress of opening for traffic has reached 91.55%, with traffic and trial operations expected to begin at the end of June. Deputy Mayor Lin expressed satisfaction with the project’s overall construction progress and commended the hard work of the construction team and hoped that they would accomplish the objectives on time.

Deputy Mayor Lin pointed out that in an effort to promote the development of mass transportation/transit stations and provide funding for MRT construction, the Mass Rapid Transit Bureau has started a comprehensive development project around the MRT stations along the lines, including the RK1 West Base in the announcement, with a land area of 1,058 pings (3,497.5 square meters). The estimated development volume is 12,300 pings (40,661 square meters). The joint development of RK2, RK3, and RK6 stations will be successively promoted in the future to meet technological industry and residential needs along the lines, as well as provide day care and commercial facilities. This will also enhance the quality of life in Gangshan and Lujhu, making Kaohsiung a more livable, convenient, and friendly technology city.

Deputy Mayor Lin further noted that the Kaohsiung Metro Gangshan-Lujhu Extension connects the industrial bases along the lines of Kaohsiung Lujhu Science Park, Ciaotou Second Science Park, the Kaohsiung Nanzih Technology Industrial Park, the Gangshan Benjhou Industrial Park, and other industrial bases. Services can be provided to 350,000 local residents and the employed population, while serving as important indicators for the “Southern Semiconductor S Corridor” of the Executive Yuan. The continuous promotion of the Kaohsiung Metro lines will boost peripheral local development, thereby promoting overall economic prosperity.

The Gangshan-Lujhu Extension Line (Phase 2A) runs from the north of RK1 Gangshan Station (excluding) to RK6 Lujhu South Station, passing through National Kangshan Agricultural & Industrial Vocational Senior High School (RK2), Gangshan Benjhou Industrial Park (RK3), Kaohsiung Science Park (RK4), Kao Yuan University (RK5), and finally ending at the southern tip of Lujhu District (RK6), a total distance of 7.84 km. Five stations will be built, extending from Kaohsiung Metro Red Line to Lujhu South. Turnkey bids were submitted for civil engineering and track engineering, with Far Eastern General Contractor Inc., winning the bid. Currently, the turnkey contractor is handling various detailed design work at respective lines, sites, and stations, as well as construction operations, such as the Kaohsiung Metro North Depot 161KV underground pipelines, BSS7 main substations, foundation piles for main lines, and so on. As of the end of December 2023, engineering progress was approximately 5.76%, and construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2027.