The Beijing-Zhuhai expressway, which runs north-south through China, was partially reopened on Sunday, officials said.

The road was reopened at 3:40 p.m. due to de-icing efforts by soldiers and police. At the Liangtian service station in the Chenzhou section of the road, local communication departments were distributing snow chains to stranded trucks. The trucks were running south slowly in an orderly fashion.

Local governments have set up emergency tents every two kilometers along the road where coats, quilts, food and medicine are available.

Many drivers have been stranded in the south-bound section of the road for more than a week. Chen Erqun of Zhengzhou in the central Henan province, said he had been on the grid-locked section of road for more than nine days.

Some drivers warmed themselves by setting fires along the road.

The south-bound lanes were closed due to icy surfaces, while those going north-bound remained open, officials said.

The north-bound portion of the expressway is now mostly being used for moving soldiers and emergency supplies.

The expressway has been closed and re-opened repeatedly over the past week due to unusual freezing weather in central and southern China.

The military logistics department on Sunday sent 100,000 quilts by rail to the central Hunan Province. A day earlier, the air force sent three transporters to help transport relief material from southern Guangdong Province to neighboring Hunan.

(Xinhua News Agency February 4, 2008)