Beijing-Tianjin Expressway was brought into operation on July 16, 2008, adding another expressway between Beijing and Tianjin.
This fast passage, known as Beijing-Tianjin Expressway, was constructed in joint effort of Beijing and Tianjin Municipal Governments. It is one of the major national express network projects laid out by Ministry of Transport and an important project for the Beijing 2008 Olympics. Its main trunk, with two ways and eight lanes, is one of very few of its kind among inter-city expresses.
The trunk line of Beijing-Tianjin Expressway extends 135 kilometers, starting from the Fifth-Ring Road in south-east Beijing. Its construction started in October 2006, and it went into operation in 2007. The 101-kilometre main section in Tianjin starts from Beitang Town of Tanggu District and ends at the Beijing section between Gaocun of Wuqing District and Beijing-Tianjin Expressway. Its construction started in 2005, and was put into operation in July 2008. This section basically parallels the existing Beijing-Tianjin-Tanggu Expressway and is located to the north of it. In order to make it more efficient and allow vehicles from Tianjin to better access the Expressway, four link lines have been built to connect the section to Beijing-Shanghai Expressway, Beijing-Tianjin Highway, Tianjin-Han’gu Highway and one developing district (Tianjin Dongjiang Bonded Port Area) respectively, spanning approximately 49.66 kilometers. It is said that the distinctiveness and vantage point of Beijing-Tianjin Expressway is its direct access to the container terminal of Tianjin Port.
The operation of the expressway will greatly relieve the present traffic tension between Beijing and Tianjin, meeting the demand of strengthening the communication between the major developing economic areas of these two cities. It drives the economic development of the areas alongside and the opening-up of Tianjin Binhai New Area. Apart from that, it has significance in improving the main road network and comprehensive transport system in Tianjin.
In 2008, Beijing-Tianjin Expressway, Beijing-Jixian Expressway extension, Beijing-Tianjin Inter-City Express Railway were brought into service in succession. With the existing Beijing-Tianjin-Tanggu Expressway and Beijing-Shanghai Expressway Mainline, there are five major trunks bringing the two megalopolises, Beijing and Tianjin, closer to each other. According to experts, this will accelerate the integration of Beijing and Tianjin, giving rise to the fast and coordinated economic development of the Circum-Bohai Bay Area.
At present, all expressways planned by the Tianjin Municipal Government have been under construction. The present construction section amounts to 327 kilometers. It is estimated that the construction will be completed by 2011.
By the end of 2008, the total span of the operating expressway in Tianjin has reached 840 kilometers, counting for 72 percent of the total under planning.
