The construction site of the Zhangjiagang-Jingjiang-Rugao Yangtze River Bridge. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

Nantong in East China's Jiangsu province has speeded up construction on transportation infrastructure in recent days with construction on the fifth Yangtze River-crossing channel, or Haimen-Taicang Yangtze River Tunnel, beginning on Sept 7.

The city plans to pave eight channels crossing the Yangtze River over the following years in an effort to narrow the development gap between northern and southern Jiangsu and achieve integration with the Yangtze River Delta region.

The construction of the fourth Zhangjiagang-Jingjiang-Rugao Yangtze River Bridge started in June, and the land used by the sixth Jiangsu section of the Shanghai-Hefei railway has recently been approved by the Ministry of Natural Resources.

"Nantong has 166 kilometers of waterfront along the Yangtze River, and after the eight Yangtze River-crossing channels are completed there will be one river-crossing channel every 20 kilometers along the Yangtze River waterfront in the city," said Zhou Jianfei, who heads the Nantong municipal bureau of transport.

Zhou added that in 2021, Nantong invested 23 billion yuan ($3.30 billion) in transport facilities, up 42 percent year-on-year, and this year the city plans to invest 31.6 billion yuan in 89 transportation construction projects.

From 2021 to 2025, Nantong is expected to complete up to 200 billion yuan in investment, the highest in Jiangsu, in transport facilities involving waterways, ports, wharfs, and highways, according to the official.

He also said that by 2025, a safe, convenient, efficient, green, and economical comprehensive transport system will take shape in Nantong, and by 2035 the city will become a national transport hub and part of the international transport hub consisting of Shanghai, Suzhou and Jiaxing.