Shenzhen has recently completed renovation of the Meilin and
Nantou checkpoints, easing greatly the traffic congestion at the
two checkpoints by widening the road, erecting footbridges and
creating different lanes for cargo vehicles and passenger
vehicles
The 100 million yuan (US$12.3 million) renovation project was
finished on schedule by the end of last year, according to the
city's construction authorities.
Besides pedestrian overpasses, bus stations, U-turn lanes and
plantings, new toilets were also added at the two checkpoints for
the convenience of pedestrians and drivers.
The renovation of the Meilin checkpoint covered an area of
280,000 square meters. It includes 150,000 square meters of road
renovation and 130,000 square meters of plantings.
At present, more than 80,000 vehicles pass through the Meilin
checkpoint every day. The traffic flow through the checkpoint
during peak hours has recorded an annual growth rate of 31.1
percent.
Before renovation, the Meilin checkpoint had three main
problems, which were the lack of a bus stop, the poorly planned
U-turn lane and the use of the same lanes for pedestrians and
vehicles.
With a bus stop and a pedestrian overpass built at the
checkpoint, buses have been separated from the rest of traffic to
provide more convenience and safety for passengers boarding or
getting down from buses.
The U-turn lane at the checkpoint has also been enlarged.
A new pedestrian overpass was built inside the Nantou checkpoint
while the old one outside the checkpoint was renovated.
Two bus stops and two U-turn lanes were also added to the Nantou
checkpoint to increase the traffic flow.
In recent years, with Shenzhen's rapid economic growth and urban
development, an increasing number of large residential compounds
have been built outside the special economic zone.
The increase of pedestrian and traffic flow, which caused
traffic congestion and jams at the Meilin and Nantou checkpoints,
have long plagued the city's residents.
(Shenzhen Daily January 5, 2006)