Commuters and traffic face disruptions from next month as work begins on a major face-lift to the Shanghai Railway Station.

The construction will address the flow of passengers, bicycles and buses and make traveling more convenient.

The plan is to connect the northern square of the station with the southern end.

Traffic disruptions to come next month A circular shape will be built in the center of the area for buses and other vehicles.

Bicycles will be allocated a special lane.

There will also be a new bus stop to make it easier to access the railway station and the underground.

"It is a step to make the service more convenient for people," said Yuan Jiaji, spokesman for the Shanghai Railway Administration.

"It is easy to get trapped in the current traffic network (around the station),especially in the peak tourist season."

Yuan said. "The face-lift will improve the situation and make the station more neat."

The design was developed over a month by traffic professionals and local citizens.

During the construction period traffic will be affected but the administration says it will take measures to reduce disruptions.

Those measures have not yet been announced and it is not known how long the construction will take.

Shanghai Railway Station was rebuilt in 2000.

It is among the best stations on China's mainland and has a passenger flow of more than 31 million people annually, according to the station's Website.

(eastday.com May 6, 2004)