More roads are to be built or upgraded in Beijing to ease the traffic congestion in China's capital.
According to plan of the Beijing Traffic Commission (BTC), total length of roads in Beijing will top 16,000 kilometers by 2010, 1,276 kilometers more than the 14,724 kilometers by the end of 2005.
Of the total, 900 kilometers will be expressway, whereas the total length of expressway was 525 kilometers by the end of 2005.
When the projects are accomplished, average speed of vehicles in artery ways will exceed 20 kilometers per hour in rush hour, according to BTC.
Urban road transport has reached a crisis point in Beijing, with 90 percent of roads operating at full capacity and little room for expansion, according to a recent survey by the city's road traffic management bureau.
Average speed of vehicles in rush hour is only 11.9 kilometers per hour, according to a survey by BTC in 2003.
Beijing is estimated to have 2.82 million cars, with more than 1,000 new ones on the streets each day. Of the 15 million urban residents, 4.13 million have driving licenses.
The capital city is wrestling with its traffic congestion. It is also planning to explore underground space in 17 areas to relieve ground traffic burden.
