A new expressway, linking Hefei, the provincial capital of east China's Anhui Province, to other southeastern coastal areas of the country via the Yangtze River Bridge at Wuhu, has been completed and was put into operation Thursday.
The expressway, which is situated at the northern bank of the Yangtze, is 15.89 km in length. Its operation helped put the Wuhu Yangtze River Bridge into service before October 1, China's National Day.
The expressway, which cost 590 million yuan (approximately US$71.08 million), began construction in December 1997. It is Anhui's first expressway built with asphalt and concrete. The project uses a road drainage system that is environment-friendly.
According to local sources, 390,000 sq m of turf and 60,000 trees have been planted along the newly-finished expressway.
The operation of the new expressway will be of great significance in promoting economic development and the opening-up drive of central and southern Anhui, said a local official.
(People's Daily 09/29/2000)
