Kaohsiung City is renovating the sidewalks in Jiaxian District, welcome news for the local shopping area, visitors and residents alike.

• Pedestrian environment improvement works have begun on two roads, Zhongxiao Road and Wenhua Road.
• The Zhongxiao Road section runs about 1.2 kilometres, costs NT$44 million, and is scheduled for completion in November.
• The Wenhua Road project, budgeted at NT$9 million, is currently at the design stage and will break ground in October.
• The existing sidewalks were too narrow, cluttered with fixtures, and buckled by tree roots; the work will level and widen them at the same time.
• Once complete, pedestrians will be able to walk from Jiaxian Riverside Park and the Jiaxian Bridge all the way to the themed shopping district and the bus station.

Outlook: Traffic controls will be in place along the affected sections during construction, and both projects are expected to be completed in stages before the end of this year.