XINCAI Passage, which connects Futian’s CBD with development clusters in Long-hua New Area, is expected to open to traffic today, diverting at least one-third of vehicles going through Meilin Checkpoint, according to Shenzhen’s transportation infrastructure construction center.

    The 3.25-kilometer Xincai Passage, also known as the northern extension of Caitian Road, is a two-way, six-lane urban road that includes a 1.67-kilometer tunnel through Meilin Mountain and a flyover of six lanes connecting with Caitian and Huanggang roads via four overpasses.

    Two overpasses allow vehicles to interchange between Huanggang Road and Xicai Passages and the other two do the same for vehicles going between Caitian Road and Huanggang Road.

    The tunnel connects Caitian-Meilin Flyover in the south with Xinqu Boulevard in Longhua New Area in the north.

    With a designated speed limit of 60kmh, it is expected to greatly relieve traffic at Meilin Checkpoint, allowing commuters from Longhua and Minzhi heading downtown to avoid traffic jams.

    Under normal conditions, driving from Xinqu Boulevard to Huanggang Road only takes two minutes, and passing through the tunnel is expected to take about 20 minutes.

    During peak times, around 11,000 vehicles go through Meilin Checkpoint via Huanggang Road per hour. After the passage is put into use, around 3,000-4,000 vehicles will be diverted to the new passage.

    The city will also introduce rapid bus lanes to improve public transportation.

    (Han Ximin)