Beijing to build new high-speed ring road to relieve traffic pressure

On January 7, the Beijing Municipal Commission of Development and Reform revealed at the Meeting on Beijing's Development and Reform in 2010 that in view of Beijing's status as a traffic hub, the authorities will build a high-speed ring road around Beijing's fringe areas.

According to the Beijing Municipal Commission of Development and Reform, Beijing gives top priority to the construction of more railways and underground railways, as well as the improvement of existing road networks to enable local residents to rationally choose transportation methods which best fit their needs by taking people-centered measures.

Beijing to build new high-speed ring road to relieve traffic pressure

Apart from urban traffic, Beijing is also a key traffic hub. Last year, a total of 5 million people from other provinces, municipalities or autonomous regions passed through Beijing. Therefore, Beijing has planned to construct a grand outer ring road around its fringe areas to ease the traffic pressure.

Beijing will depend on Hebei's existing road network to ease traffic pressure caused by passing vehicles from other provinces, municipalities or autonomous regions.

It is learned that the "grand outer ring road of Beijing" will consist of the Zhangjiakou—Chengde Expressway, the Beijing to Chengde section of the Daqing—Guangzhou Expressway, the Miyun—Zhuozhou Expressway, the Zhangjiakou—Zhuozhou Expressway, and the Tumu to Jiaoniwan section of the Beijing—Huashaoying Expressway. After completion, the outer ring road will surround the capital city.

According to Guo Jifu, director of the Beijing Transportation Research Center, the "grand outer ring road of Beijing" will mainly be based on Hebei's existing road network and its main function is to attract passing vehicles. It is said that Beijing is an important freight transportation hub in China, and commodities from northwestern China, the northeast, the central and southern parts of China, as well as southwestern China need to pass through Beijing. In addition, Beijing connects the cities in the southern, eastern and northern parts of Hebei province. As a result, many passing vehicles have added to Beijing's air pollution and traffic pressure. After completion, the "grand outer ring road of Beijing" will directly connect 12 other expressways and 10 ordinary highways, allowing passing vehicles to quickly move out of the capital city. In other words, the ring road will play an important role in relieving traffic pressure in Beijing because all passing vehicles will not need to go through Beijing's central area any more.

Translated by LOTO