Construction of the Shanghai's first multi-level underground traffic interchange has begun at Siping Road Station on Line No. 8 subway, Oriental Morning Post reported today.

The three-level underground traffic interchange will comprise a road above Line No. 8, and Line No. 10 will be built at the bottom level, the report said.

The 1.3-kilometer underground road runs two ways with four lanes and strides the crossroads of Siping Road and Dalian Road in Yangpu District. It will help divert traffic flow and be convenient for metro passengers, the report said.

Construction of the Line No. 10 will start after the road is built, the report said.

Line No. 10, running from Qibao in Minhang District to Pudong New Area, is expected to open before the 2010 Shanghai World Expo while Line No. 8, which goes from Shiguang Road to Shanghai South Railway Station, will open on December 28.

The city also plans to build another 50 underground traffic interchanges across the city to ease congestion, the report said.

(Shanghai Daily December 18, 2007)