Han Ximin
ximhan@126.com
SHENZHEN transportation commission diverted 16 bus routes, which go through Meilin Checkpoint, to the newly opened Xincai Passage yesterday in an effort to relieve congestion at the checkpoint.
To ensure efficiency of the 3.25-kilometer passage linking Futian’s CBD with Longhua New Area through a 1.67-kilometer tunnel, the bus lanes along the passage are permanently off-limits to vehicles with less than 10 seats.
The bus routes include E11, 54, M347, M223 and M262, among others. The passage is expected to relieve one-third of traffic going through Meilin Checkpoint, the transportation commission said at a ceremony yesterday.
Xincai Passage, also known as the northern extension of Caitian Road, allows interchanges of vehicles between Caitian Road, Huanggang Road and the tunnel via four overpasses.
During peak times, around 11,000 vehicles go through Meilin Checkpoint per hour. After the passage was put into use, around 3,000-4,000 vehicles are expected to be diverted.
The passage, the second road linking Meilin Checkpoint, can save drivers 5 kilometers on the way from Shenzhen North Railway Station to Civic Center, compared to the current route that goes through Meilin Checkpoint.
A driver surnamed Guo, who lives in Longhua New Area and works in Futian, feels excited about opening of the passage.
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“I was caught in traffic jams for about an hour each morning when crossing Meilin Checkpoint to my office on Caitian Road. In the worst cases, I even wanted to abandon my car on the road and walk to work,” Guo said.
The south-north passage, the construction of which started at the end of 2010, was completed eight months ahead of schedule.
It is the third tunnel, following Tanglangshan and Fulong Road tunnels, that facilitates traffic between the original SEZ districts - Luohu, Futian, Nanshan and Yantian - with Longgang and Bao’an districts.
More tunnels including Banyin Passage, which links Bantian in Longgang and Yinhu in Luohu District, will also be built.
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