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Traffic system upgrading for the GamesBy Li Qian (Chinadaily.com.cn)Updated: 2006-09-06 14:56Beijing has many traffic problems, which are compounded when it rains, and this has caused many to worry about the Olympics, held in August, during the city's rainy season. In order to solve this problem the central government and municipal authorities are spending 90 billion yuan on road system improvement and metro construction, as well as airport expansion, the Hong Kong-based Wen Wui Po newspaper reported on Tuesday. Roads around the Olympic venues will be upgraded first in preparation for heavier traffic and at least 60 new roads around the city will be finished before the Games to ease pressure on current roads. According to Municipal Traffic Administration Bureau figures, the number of vehicles in Beijing reached 2.75 million in August this year. In order to clamp down on the fast-increasing number of cars, Beijing was determined to build a perfect railway system.
A sky rail line connecting the airport and traffic centre Dongzhimen and four lines of subways are under construction, including the No.4 subway in the west of the city, the No.5 subway scheduled to open at the end of 2007, the No.10 subway which will be finished before July 2008, and the Olympic line between the No.10 subway and the Olympic Green. The Beijing Evening News reported Tuesday that the No.10 subway and the Olympic line connected underground at the biggest metro station in Beijing the Xiongmao Huandao interchange. The skyline to the airport will be 28 kilometres long. Travelers will be able to reach the Capital Airport from Dongzhimen Station on the second ring road in 16 minutes at a speed of 110 kilometres per hour. The No.4, No.5, No.10 and Olympic subways will extend the running distance of Beijing's metro to 200 kilometres, from the existing 114 kilometres of railways. The city's long-term railway plans aim to have 1,000 kilometres of track in the next 30 years. In addition to building new metro lines, most old trains will be replaced with more comfortable trains, and existing stations will be renovated. |
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