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The central government yesterday approved Shanghai to embark on a 12.2 billion-yuan (US$1.47 billion) project, involving building a tunnel, bridge and elevated highway to connect the Changxing and Chongming islands to the city proper.
This largest ever urban project for Shanghai will see an 8.5-kilometer-long tunnel built between Pudong and Changxing Island, which is situated to the northeast of the city proper in the Yangtze River.
A 9.5-kilometer-long bridge will further link the island with Chongming Island, said the Shanghai Engineering Administrative Bureau.
The tunnel and bridge will then be connected by a 7-kilometer-long elevated highway on Changxing.
Chongming is the third largest island in China with a total area of 1,041 square kilometers, and is expected to be the site of the city's major development in the future.
Currently, ferry is the only way to travel from the city proper to both of the islands. The ferry ride takes two hours to reach Chongming Island, which has begun to develop tourism industry over the past couple of years. Once the bridge and tunnel are completed, the trip will take less than an hour.
(eastday.com February 11, 2003)
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