Transport network projects launched, boosting integration

Zhanjiang in Guangdong province has made great breakthroughs in the construction of transportation infrastructure construction since the city was positioned as a national comprehensive traffic hub last year.

According to Jiang Jianjun, mayor of Zhanjiang, the city has drawn up comprehensive transportation development plans.

This year, Zhanjiang's government plans to invest 20.6 billion yuan ($3.27 billion) to launch 37 major transportation projects, including the construction of an international airport and high-speed railways.

Mayor Jiang said: "Zhanjiang will build a fast-connecting high-speed railway network and a regional large-scale port to set up an efficient and comprehensive transportation hub integrating sea routes, airlines and roads."

Construction on the Shenzhen-Zhanjiang High-speed Railway has accelerated and the line is expected to enter operation in June.

China Railway Construction Engineering Group has built Zhanjiang West Railway Station to a high standard, local officials said. The station is set to operate alongside the Shenzhen-Zhanjiang line.

Construction has also picked up on railway lines connecting Zhanjiang with Hepu in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, Haikou in Hainan province, and Guangzhou in Guangdong, as well as a tourism railway line connecting Zhangjiajie in Hunan province and Haikou.

The government plans to complete construction on the west high-speed railway station and promote electrification modifications on the Maoming-Zhanjiang rail line to ensure the smooth operation of the Shenzhen-Zhanjiang high-speed railway in June.

The latter railway line is expected to launch direct rail links to Beijing, Shanghai and major cities of the Pearl River Delta, integrating into the national high-speed railway network, according to the local government. Zhanjiang will also build high-speed railway stations in Zhanjiang's central districts.

With the support of various levels of government, Zhanjiang International Airport has upgraded from a regional airport to a major transport hub, with its runway increasing in length from 2,800 meters to 3,200 meters. The optimized design of the terminals has been completed to international standards, with further upgrades set to continue. The city said it will accelerate the creation of an expressway to the airport - the Wuchuan line of the Shantou-Zhanjiang expressway.

In addition, the city will accelerate the construction of expressways such as the Yulin-Zhanjiang expressway, build the Zhanjiang section of the Guangdong coastal highway and expand the Maoming-Zhanjiang expressway.

The Zhanjiang stretch of the Shantou-Zhanjiang expressway has already entered operation, with 300 kilometers of highway roads within the city limits.

There are three major projects in Xuwen port in Zhanjiang this year, building a cargo wharf in the Nanshan operation area, improving Xuwen port's road connections, and connecting the port with the Zhanjiang-Xuwen expressway.

"The city will launch construction of port and shipping projects to strengthen Zhanjiang Port's strategic position among national ports," Jiang said. In addition, Zhanjiang will strengthen cooperation with China Merchants Group to speed up preliminary work on Zhanjiang international cruise terminal this year.