China will expand its first expressway, which links Shenyang with Dalian cities in northwest China's Liaoning Province.

The 6-billion-yuan project will be funded by various social sectors apart from the government's allocation. Construction is to start some time this year and should be finished by 2005, said Tian Yuguang, director of the Liaoning Provincial Communications Department.

The new road will have eight lanes -- double the current number.

The Shenyang-Dalian Express was opened to traffic in 1990 at a cost of 2.2 billion yuan (US$265 million). As an artery to link Liaoning, Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces in northwest China, it handled 20,000 motor vehicles a day by the end of last year. The number will jump to 80, 000 in 10 years.

The expressway mileage in Liaoning totaled 1,068 km at the end of last year. Eleven of the 14 major cities in Liaoning have been connected with the expressway network.

(China Daily 09/10/2001)