A 30-minute commute circle in downtown Zhuhai and a 60-minute one connecting the city's east and west wings during peak hours will be formulated in upcoming five years, according to the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) for the Development of Zhuhai's Comprehensive Transportation System released April 12 by Zhuhai Transport Bureau.

As part of the plan, Hong Kong, Macao, and cities in the west Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area will be reachable within one hour from Zhuhai, while east Greater Bay Area cities can be reached within two hours. In addition, other cities in Guangdong Province, as well as major cities in China will be reachable within three hours, and major global cities in half a day.

The plan outlined that total investment of 142.4 billion yuan ($22.3 billion) will be dedicated over five years for high-quality infrastructure construction.

Rendering of Jinhai Bridge [Photo courtesy WeChat account: zhuhaifabu]

Expressway projects, including the south extension line of the Zhongshan West Outer Ring connecting Honghe Bridge, west extension line of Xianghai Bridge, and Phase II of the Zhongshan East Outer Ring connecting the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link, will be moved forward in coordination with Zhongshan City. Planning for the Lingding Sea Channel and Zhuhai section of the Shenzhen-Nanning Expressway are also underway. 

The section west of Jinwan Interchange on Zhuhai Avenue will finish improvements, while projects like the Jinxi Avenue, North Airport Road, and Gaolan Express Road will be completed. Preparations for urban arteries, such as the south extension line of the Xingye Expressway, Jingang Bridge, west extension line of North Huandao Road, south extension line of North Airport Road, and Xiangshan Avenue, will start. Two new bridges, namely Nanmen and Doumen bridges, will be built. 

A loop line of intercity MRTs linking Xiangzhou, Hengqin, and Zhuhai (Jinwan) Airport will take shape as a mass transit system. Zhuhai-Doumen MRT is also planned. Construction for the Zhuhai (Jinwan) Airport-Hezhou Station section of the Guangzhou-Foshan-Jiangmen-Zhuhai Intercity MRT will commence and that for the Shenzhen-Zhuhai Intercity Railway will start in the end of the 14th Five-Year Plan period based on preliminary studies. 

Bus-only lanes will be set up on main roads like National Expressway G105, Nanwan Avenue, and Gangwan Avenue. Thirteen bus transit hubs will be built or renovated, while preparation works for the expansion of Zhuhai (Jinwan) Airport's second runway and Terminal 3 will be launched.