Travel time for the 180,700 commuters between eastern and western Zhuhai is expected to be shortened by up to 25 percent with the opening of the longest exclusive bus lane in the city next week.

The 26.5-km (14.5-mile) lane is an upgraded version of the existing one, incorporating additional roadways based on careful analysis. It starts on Jiuzhou Avenue in Jida, Xiangzhou District and stretches westward to Airport Road in Jinwan District, providing access to public buses, company shuttle buses, school buses, and coaches.

Also opening will be the first two lanes for Route 826, which is to begin providing express bus services on Dec 18. Around 50 km long (31.1 miles) and costing just one yuan (15 cents) per person, the lanes for the new route have less than one-tenth the number of stops of traditional bus lanes. Transit time will be reduced by at least half an hour compared with the previous K Line.

Zhuhai electric bus [Photo courtesy Zhuhai Daily]

• Route 826, Line 1

Length: 48 km (29.8 miles)

Qianshan Terminal departure route: Qianshan Passenger Terminal - Gangchang Road - Qianshan Bridge - Zhuhai Avenue - Gaolan Port Avenue - Gaolan Port Edifice - Nanshui Bus Station

Nanshui Station departure route: Nanshui Bus Station - Zhuhai Avenue - Qianshan Bridge - Yuehai Road - Gangyi Road - Gangchang Road - Qianshan Passenger Terminal

Stops: Qianshan Passenger Terminal (前山总站), Huafa New Town (华发新城), Huxin Road Intersection (湖心路口), Guangdong Polytechnic of Science & Technology (省科干学院), Xiaolin Dongcheng Road Intersection (小林东城路口), Pingsha Road Intersection (平沙路口), Gaolan Port Edifice (高栏港大厦), Nanshui Bus Station (南水客运站)

Vehicle type: 12-m (39.4-ft) electric bus

• Route 826, Line 2

Length: 55 km (34.18 miles)

Intercity MRT Zhuhai Station departure route: Intercity MRT Zhuhai Station (Gongbei) - Changsheng Road - South Lovers Avenue - Yuehai Road - South Yingbin Road - Zhuhai Avenue - Pingdong Avenue - First Pingsha Road - Third Meiping Street - Chang'an Road - Shengping Avenue - Ocean Spring Resort

Ocean Spring Resort departure route: Ocean Spring Resort - Shengping Avenue - Chang'an Road - Third Meiping Street - First Pingsha Road - Pingdong Avenue - Zhuhai Avenue - South Yingbin Road - Qiaoguang Road - Guihua Road - Changsheng Road - Intercity MRT Zhuhai Station

Stops: Intercity MRT Zhuhai Station (城轨珠海站), Overseas Chinese Hotel (华侨宾馆), Lanpu (Midtown) (兰埔 富华里), Huafa New Town (华发新城), Huxin Road Intersection (湖心路口), Guangdong Polytechnic of Science & Technology (省科干学院), Xiaolin Dongcheng Road Intersection (小林东城路口), Pingsha Road Intersection (平沙路口), Pingsha Post Office (平沙邮局), Holiday Bay (京华假日湾), Ocean Spring Resort (海泉湾)

Vehicle type: 12-m (39.4-ft) electric bus