Striving for Completion of a 5-Hour Traffic Circle Involving 13 Cities in Fujian, Guangdong and Jiangxi by 2010

As a member unit of the economic cooperation zone of 13 cities in Fujian, Guangdong and Jiangxi, our city follows the principle of "completing each other with advantages and promoting joint development, mutual benefit and win-win" in strengthening the cooperation with the related cities in the zone, and plans to build a modern traffic network with railways, expressways, seaports and airports as the primary framework, which is believed to be a comprehensive passage that serves the development of the 13 cities and expands economic and trade exchanges and cooperation. It is expected that, by the year 2010, a regional 5-hour traffic circle will be in place to connect the 13 cities, including Shantou, Xiamen, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, Chaozhou, Jieyang, Shanwei and Meizhou.
The Provincial Party Committee and Government required Shantou to make a success the construction of Meizhou-Shantou, Shantou-Jieyang, Chaozhou-Jiexi and Chaozhou-Huiyang Expressways and Xiamen-Shenzhen Railway, complete the trunk traffic lines between the cities as early as possible and create a one-hour economic and life circle in East Guangdong and a 3-hour economic and life circle that links up with PRD and Xiamen, Zhangzhou and Quanzhou. To put this spirit of the Provincial Government into practice and accelerate the construction of the traffic network of the 13 cities and promote the integration of traffic infrastructure, the Transport Bureau of Shantou is working hard to push the pre-launch work and construction of traffic and transport passage projects focusing on expressways and highways to beef up the cohesive/radiating capability and speed up the formation of a new pattern of integrated regional development.
In terms of highways, Shantou has been continuously intensifying the planning and construction of expressways to help form a high-speed transportation network that connects the 13 cities. Shantou-Jieyang Expressway is an important part of Shan(tou)-Kun(ming) Highway, which is a key national project. Since the beginning of this year, our city has solved the technical problems related to highway spanning railway and completed the invitation for bid to the construction of Yuepu (3rd lot) of Shantou section. The plan is to start construction in the 4th quarter to ensure completion and opening to traffic in 2011. Meanwhile, Shantou-Jiexi Expressway is an important part of Shantou-Zhanjiang Expressway, the second horizontal line of the province, and its line route has been decided. On September 9, the provincial Department of Transport approved the project feasibility report. Commencement of construction is scheduled for 2010. Additionally, our city also works with the provincial Department of Transport in setting about the preliminary work of Jiedong-Huilai and Chaozhou-Huizhou Expressways.
In terms of railways, Shantou is going all out with the construction of Xiamen-Shenzhen Railway and the pre-launch work for Fuyang-Yingtan-Shantou Railway to help form a high-speed railway transportation passage from southeast Jiangxi to the central regions where Shantou serves as a marine outfall. Xiamen-Shenzhen Railway is a large high-speed passage that strengthens the connection between the two special economic zones of Shenzhen and Xiamen. Since the controlled works of the Shantou section of the railway were started last October, construction speed has increased continuously and RMB 440 million yuan of investment has been collected so far. The Rongjiang, Xinpo, Fushan and Hanjiang large bridges and the Qingshan and Liantang bridges have entered the construction stages of piling, bearing platforms and pier foundation. Hushan Tunnel has been holed through smoothly, while excavation of Chitouling Tunnel and Sanjianfeng Tunnel has been started and is making good progress, resulting in 100,000 cubic meters of roadbed excavation. Simultaneously, pre-launch work is being speeded up for the mitigation line of Xiamen-Shenzhen Railway into Shantou Station to strive for start of construction of the mitigation line in 2010 and ensure its completion with the main line in 2011. Fuyang-Yingtan-Shantou Railway, which is under construction planning, will form a large south-north trunk line of the national railway network to create a sea-reaching railway passage that connects southwest Anhui, southeast Jiangxi and East Guangdong. It will strengthen the radiating functions of Shantou Port in serving the hinterland and intensify its role of a shipping center for Taiwan, Hong Kong and Southeast Asia.
In last September, Fuyang-Yingtan-Shantou Railway was officially incorporated into the national Medium and Long-term Plan for Adjustment of Railway Network. Efforts will be made to kick off the project before the end of 2011 for commissioning in 2015.
In terms of waterway, Shantou Port as an important harbor on the southeastern coast enjoys advantageous geographic and construction conditions. The focus of its future construction is on Guang'ao Port Area. According to the Traffic Plan for the Cooperation Region of 13 Cities in Fujian, Guangdong and Jiangxi, Guang'ao Port Area will become one of the coastal ports for key construction in the region. In the aspect of aviation, Shantou Airport of our city strengthens the cooperation with the airports in the region, e.g. Xiamen Airport and Gold Airport in Ganzhou, through the mode of combined land-air transportation to boost the teamwork in cargo transportation, especially international cargo transportation, and provide the enterprises in the region with efficient, convenient and fast logistic service.

Source: Shantou Daily October 29, 2009