Photo taken on Jan 20 shows a bird's eye view of the Jiangsu section of the Yixing-Changxing Expressway. [Photo/IC]

The Jiangsu section of the 24.45-kilometer Yixing-Changxing Expressway opened to traffic on Jan 20.

The Yixing-Changxing Expressway is an important part of the Jiangsu expressway network plan, which will further improve the transportation infrastructure in the Yangtze River Delta.

It is also the first highway in Jiangsu that crosses the boundary between Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces with tunnels.

With a design maximum speed of 120 kilometers per hour, the travel time between Yixing in Jiangsu and Changxing county in Zhejiang will be reduced from 50 minutes to just 10 minutes.

Construction on the new expressway started in September 2017. In order to minimize the damage and impact on the environment, four tunnels were built to connect Jiangsu and Zhejiang.

Passengers are able to enjoy the beautiful natural scenery along the expressway, which has been afforested and built with local specialties of Yixing, including tea culture and purple clay art.

Chen Guangjun, general manager of Zhejiang Changyi Expressway Co Ltd, said that the expressway breaks geographical barriers between Changxing and Yixing, which will bring Jiangsu and Zhejiang closer.

Lian Qiang, deputy director of the Yixing-Changxing Expressway construction command, said that the new expressway is expected to greatly benefit economic and tourism development in the surrounding rural areas.

Lian added that as a result, Yixing and Wuxi will accelerate steps to join the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta due to the new transportation efficiency from the expressway.