Liaoning gives artery project an extra push

An artery road project in Liaoning Province is progressing smoothly.

The road, which will link five key coastal investment destinations in the province, is expected to boost the province's investment attraction.

Its preparatory work, launched at the end of 2004, has basically been completed. By the end of July, 75 per cent of the road planning was finished.

According to the general plan, a 395.2-kilometre stretch of the road will be built this year, accounting for 88.7 per cent of the total length.

These sections, which will be constructed this year, include 40.68 kilometres in Huludao, 37.14 kilometres in Jinzhou, 35.02 kilometres in Panjin, 64.76 kilometres in Yingkou, 137.6 kilometres in Dalian and 80 kilometres in Dandong.

And the rest of the road is due to be completed at the end of the 11th Five-Year Plan (2006-10) period.

Total investment in the road has so far amounted to 674.52 million yuan (US$84.32 million).

Currently, the completed road amounts to 150.85 kilometres, accounting for 38.2 per cent of the construction plan for this year.

"The road, once fully completed and put into use, will play an instrumental role in optimizing coastal industries," said Yu Hongjun, senior economist with the Development and Reform Commission of Liaoning Province.

According to Yu, the provincial government has outlined plans to build 25 manufacturing zones along the road, seeking to help shift industrial operations to the coastal region.

The port cities in Liaoning Province have developed a comprehensive transportation network, covering shipping, railways, roads, air routes and pipelines.

Experts said the construction of the new road would further strengthen the transportation advantages of the coastal region and meanwhile, provide convenient links to the huge hinterland in Northeast China and even the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

Source: China Daily