The Shenzhen municipal government plans to relieve the deteriorating traffic situation near the Meilin Checkpoint within three years.

A detailed traffic plan unveiled Wednesday showed four new checkpoints would be set up near the Meilin area between the special economic zone and other regions. The move would help root out traffic jams there, the plan said.

The government was also urged to widen the existing roads leading to the area to accommodate more vehicles.

The area around the Meilin Checkpoint has long been plagued by traffic jams, which, experts say, were a result of the high population growth and an increasing number of vehicles combined with outdated traffic facilities.

By the end of 2003, there were 5.57 million permanent residents in Shenzhen, approaching the 5.6 million quota set by the local government for 2005, according to latest statistics.

The number of vehicles in Shenzhen had surpassed 620,000 by May 2004, outnumbering 550,000 in Hong Kong.

Traffic jams were aggravated recently as more people inside the special economic zone chose to buy houses outside for cleaner air and cheaper living costs.

The lack of checkpoints and bus lines outside the special economic zone also contributed, forcing more commuters to buy private cars.

In 2003, more than 1,000 vehicles an hour passed through the Meilin Checkpoint at peak times.

Public transport is given priority under the well-received international practice.

(Shenzhen Daily November 26, 2004)