Beijing-Tianjin Expressway was brought intooperation on July 16, 2008, adding another expresswaybetween Beijing and Tianjin.

This fast passage, known as Beijing-Tianjin Expressway,was constructed in joint effort fromBeijing and Tianjin Municipal Governments. Itis one of the major national express networkprojects laid out by Ministry of Transport andan important project for the Olympics. Its maintrunk, with two ways and eight lanes, is one ofvery few of its kind among inter-city expresses.

Before the Beijing Olympics, Beijing-Tianjin Expressway,Beijing-Jixian Expressway extension,Beijing-Tianjin Inter-City Express Railway hadbeen brought into service in succession. Withthe existing Beijing-Tianjin-Tanggu Expresswayand Beijing-Shanghai Expressway Mainline,there are five major trunks bringing the twomegalopolises, Beijing and Tianjin, closer toeach other.

According to experts, this will accelerate theintegration of Beijing and Tianjin, giving rise tothe fast and coordinated economic developmentof the circum-Bohai Sea region.

The trunk line of Beijing-Tianjin Expressway extends135 kilometers, starting from the fifth-ringroad in south-east Beijing and ending at BeitangTown of Tanggu District, Tianjin. The sectionwithin Beijing is approximately 34 kilometersand the main section in Tianjin 101 kilometers.

The construction work on the section in Tianjinbegan in 2005 and the Beijing section started inOctober, 2006. The Beijing section of the Beijing-Tianjin Expressway went into operation in 2007.

The Tianjin section extends from Beitang,Tanggu District to Gaocun, Wuqing District,from where the road connects to the Beijingsection. This section basically parallels theexisting Beijing-Tianjin-Tanggu Expressway andis located to the north of it. In order to make itmore efficient and allow vehicles from Tianjinto better access to Beijing-Tianjin Expressway,four link lines have been built to connectthe section to Beijing-Shanghai Expressway,Beijing-Tianjin Highway, Tianjin-Hangu Highwayand one developing district (Tianjin DongjiangBonded Port Area) respectively, spanning approximately49.66 kilometers.

It is said that the sparkling point and exclusivestrength of Beijing-Tianjin Expressway is its directaccess to the container terminal of Tianjin Port.

It is estimated that the daily traffic flow on theexpressway is more than 50,000 and it surpasses120,000 at peak times, bringing alongsignificant economic and social benefit.

Insiders believe that the operation of the expresswaywill greatly relieve the present traffictension between Beijing and Tianjin, meetingthe demand of strengthening the communicationbetween the major developing economicareas of these two cities. It drives the economicdevelopment of the areas alongside and theopening-up of Tianjin Binhai New Area. Apartfrom that, it has significance in improving themain road network and comprehensive transportsystem in Tianjin.

At present, all expressways planned by the Tianjin municipal government have been underconstruction. The present construction sectionamounts to 327 kilometers. It is estimated thatthe construction will wrap up by 2011.

So far, the total span of the operating expresswayin Tianjin has reached 840 kilometers, countingfor 72 percent of the total under planning.