Wuchu Avenue in Ezhou now connects to the Wuhan-Ezhou and Ezhou-Xianning highways. It is part of the transport improvement project in the Wuhan-Ezhou-Huanggang-Huangshi metropolitan area. [Photo/Hubei Daily]

A total of 17 expressways for the Wuhan-Ezhou-Huanggang-Huangshi transport improvement project have been completed and put into use within one year, according to the local news report on May 11.

Driving on Gaoxin Avenue, which is located in the East Lake High-tech Development Zone (also known as Optics Valley of China, or OVC) and serves as a link between Wuhan and Ezhou, driver Li Jun was impressed by the seamless connection between the two cities. The brand-new dual-direction eight-lane road is accompanied by two emergency lanes, and features white magnolia-shaped street lamps.

As part of the Wuhan-Ezhou-Huanggang-Huangshi expressway system, this newly opened road enhances the quality of its surroundings, as its construction includes the planting of lush green trees on both sides of the road.

As a significant factor for the integrated development of the Wuhan-Ezhou-Huanggang-Huangshi metropolitan area, and transportation channel that will serve the development of Wuhan New City, the expressway system is 422 kilometers long. Of this total, 371 km of roadways have been reconstructed, and 40 specific projects have been implemented. With a total investment of 40.4 billion yuan ($5.7 billion), this project boasts the largest construction scale during this period among all express systems in 13 national metropolitan areas in the country. 

The expressway system is scheduled to be fully completed by 2026.