Traffic both ways is taking turns using the 30-year-old Banzhang Mt Tunnel passages from today (Dec 1) to Jan 29 during renovations, according to a public notice posted Nov 29 by the Traffic Police Detachment of the Municipal Public Security Bureau.

Apparently, Gongbei-bound driving lanes will be closed during the first stage, while the Ningxi-bound passageway will handle two-way traffic; and vice versa during the second phase. Motorists must follow the temporary traffic signs and the directives of traffic-control personnel.

Opened in 1990, the older two-passage Banzhang Mt Tunnel was designed to handle 40,000 vehicles daily. Due to rapid economic development, however, daily traffic flow surged from 5,000 in the 1990s to 110,000 vehicles today.

The north-south tunnel was often jammed with traffic until the June 23 opening of two additional dual-lane tunnels and China's longest slow-traffic channel eased the congestion. With anticipated daily capacity of 150,000 vehicles, the tunnels break gridlocks between New Xiangzhou (Ningxi) and Gongbei in downtown Zhuhai.

Gongbei side of Banzhang Mt Tunnels [Photo courtesy WeChat account: zhuhaifabu]