Middle Ring Expressway [Photo/Kunshan Daily]

The Middle Ring Expressway (MRE) had all its entrances, exits and ramps opened to traffic at 10:30am, last Thursday, ushering in the trial operation of the long-anticipated road. Kunshan’s city construction and the development of economy and society will make a stride to a higher starting point.

In the history of Kunshan’s traffic construction, the MRE is a single project that involves the biggest investment, the largest construction operation area, the most difficult relocation, piping and greening tasks, the most complex construction site and the most public attention. The MRE renovation project was officially started on June 19, 2012.

As the Kunshan’s first expressway, the 44.2km-long MRE consists of Jiangpu Road (west line), S339 (north line), Huangpujiang Road (east line) and G312 (south line), and its enclosed area is 78 square kilometers. The 12.6km east ring includes Lujia Overpass, the 13.88 south ring includes KSND Overpass, the 9.23 west ring includes a second-level overpass at Zhonghuayuan Road, and the 8.5km north ring includes Zhoushi Overpass.

The MRE project has also built Jinjihe Bridge, and expanded five bridges, namely, Loujiang Bridge, Zhangjiagang Bridge, Qingyanggang Bridge, Taicangtang Bridge, Shanghai-Nanjing Expressway Dry Bridge.

Following the standard for city expressway, the elevated road is equipped with two-way six lanes and the vehicle speed is 80km/hour. Following the standard for city artery, the ground road is equipped with two-way six lanes and the vehicle speed is 40km/hour.

In December, 2014, the main part of the MRE renovation project was basically concluded, and the ground road traffic was resumed. In order to guarantee the safety and order of the MRE, the departments concerned conducted a complete inspection and check of the quality of asphalt road surface, traffic safety facilities, intelligent transport system, road lighting system, etc.

Kunshan Traffic Engineering Test Center finished the sound barrier test, and the key tests of traffic signs and the retro reflective index of road marking last Monday, which was also the last test before the operation of the MRE.

In recent years, Kunshan has been sticking to transportation-led city development, and pushing forward the construction of a large number of major traffic infrastructures. As a key link in the construction of Kunshan’s city road network system, the MRE renovation project will not only play a huge role in relieving traffic congestion and improving traffic carrying capacity, but also exert a far-reaching influence on the upgrading of Kunshan’s city level and the new round of leapfrog development. Insiders also believe that the completion of the MRE will greatly ease the traffic pressure on the central urban area and reduce the access time for medium and long distance travels in the city proper.