Taipei, July 11 (CNA) The opening of the Yilan County's new Nanfang'ao Bridge -- whose predecessor collapsed in October 2019, killing six -- has been delayed to December due to a structural flaw, Minister of Transportation and Communications Wang Kwo-tsai (王國材) said Monday.

The structural flaw, introduced after concrete was incorrectly poured into a section of the bridge's formwork on May 27, had caused a cantilever truss to subside and misalign, according to Wang, who was visiting Nanfang'ao Fishing Port in Su'ao Township to review the construction work.

Given the difficulty of removing the defective segment from above the waterway, the bridge's opening has been pushed back by three months from Sept. 18 to Dec. 18, Wang said.

According to the Directorate General of Highways, which the Taiwan International Ports Corp. commissioned to lead the project, construction of the 796.53-meter replacement bridge started on July 16, 2020, and is expected to cost NT$860 million (US$29 million).

The original Nanfang'ao suspension bridge collapsed on Oct. 1, 2019, killing six migrant workers from the Philippines and Indonesia on fishing boats in the harbor.

Nine other migrant fishermen, one oil tank driver, and three rescue personnel were injured in the incident, which also damaged boats and vehicles in the port.

An investigation by the Taiwan Transportation Safety Board found that corrosion in parts of the bridge and superficial maintenance in lieu of proper repairs were to blame for the collapse.

(By Wang Chao-yu and Ko Lin)