The upgraded parts of Pinghai Highway in Tongzhou district, Nantong, passed approval and opened to traffic on July 16. The rapid transformation of the highway was included in the port and highway projects of the Ministry of Transport during the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20).

Being a main channel connecting Nantong's urban area and Tongzhou Bay, the upgraded highway links the fast channel of Tongzhou Bay in the west and is connected to Lehai Avenue in Tongzhou Bay demonstration area in the east.

Starting in April 2019, the project covered 28.3 kilometers and required investment of 565 million yuan ($80.7 million). The Tongzhou section is 10 km long and the Tongzhou Bay demonstration area section is 18.3 km long.

The highway was constructed according to first-grade highway standard. Without any traffic lights, the highway has a designed speed of 100 km per hour. The driving time from the Qi'an exit of the Nantong-Yangkou Expressway to Tongzhou Bay demonstration area has been shortened from 40 minutes to 25 minutes.

The upgraded Pinghai Highway greatly improves travel conditions, enhances Tongzhou Bay's capacities in collection and distribution, and provides support for the construction of a new marine outfall in Jiangsu province.

Without any traffic lights, the highway has a designed speed of 100 km per hour. [Photo/WeChat account: jstzrb]