North-south thruways will run through each of Zhuhai's districts as part of a provincial endeavor to more-closely connect cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and also in the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Macao Science & Technology Innovation Corridor.

The Guangdong Expressway Network Layout Plan (2020-35) was made public on June 2. As for Zhuhai, it shows arteries that will extend from Jinwan District to Qingyuan's Qingxin, Doumen to Guangzhou's Huangpu, Xiangzhou to Foshan's Shunde, and Hengqin New Area to Guangzhou's Liwan and Panyu districts.

Moreover, a Pearl River Delta ring expressway will connect the Greater Bay Area cities of Zhuhai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Dongguan, Foshan, Zhaoqing, Jiangmen, and Zhongshan. The ring will access Hong Kong and Macao via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge.

Guangdong Expressway Network Layout (2020-35) [Photo courtesy nanfangplus]

A purpose-built North Extension Line of the Zhuhai Airport Expressway is among 13 thoroughfares proposed to support the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Macao Science & Technology Innovation Corridor. In addition, land is reserved for a Shenzhen-Zhuhai-Nanning expressway in the far future.

By 2035, a Twelve Vertical-Eight Horizontal-Two Ring-Sixteen Radial expressway network spreading over the province and radiating outward to the Pan-Pearl River Delta region will take shape. It will center on the Pearl River Delta, highlight coastal cities and major transport hubs, and reach key scenic spots.

Specifically, there will be five expressways each from the core Pearl River Delta area to western and eastern Guangdong, and eight to the northern cities. More than six highways will link Guangdong with each surrounding province or autonomous region.

Furthermore, travelers from major ports, civil aviation airports, and railway hubs will be able to access expressways within 15 minutes, while visitors to provincial 4A- and 5A-level tourist attractions will need 30 minutes or less, and residents of 90 percent of villages and towns will be able to reach major roadways within 30 minutes.

The total expressway mileage in Guangdong of 15,000 km (9,321 miles) is designed to support in-depth cooperation in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and development of the coastal economic belt as it facilitates travel to surrounding areas.