Tai'an has made remarkable progress in improving its transportation infrastructure over the past five years. [Photo/dzwww.com]

The city of Tai'an in East China's Shandong province has made remarkable progress in improving its transportation infrastructure and expanding its transportation network over the past five years, according to local media.

During the 13th Five Year Plan (2016-20) period, the total length of highways in Tai'an reached 15,974.6 kilometers, an increase of 796.7 kilometers since the end of the 12th Five-Year Plan period (2011-15).

The total length of expressways in the city is expected to reach 470 kilometers by the end of 2020, nearly doubling from 2015.

More than 40 roads have been constructed in the city's urban area with a total length of more than 200 kilometers, providing a more convenient and efficient travel environment for locals.

The construction of major expressways and railways connecting to other cities has accelerated as well.

The Jinan-Tai'an Expressway opened to traffic on Oct 27, 2020, shortening travel time between Jinan and Tai'an to just half an hour. The expressway, which is two-way and six lanes, will help further promote regional exchange between the two cities.

The Tai'an-Ningyang and Ningyang-Liangshan sections of the Dongjiakou-Liangshan Expressway opened to traffic on Oct 31,2020. They connect Xintai, a county-level city in Tai'an, with Ningyang and Dongping counties. Travel time between Xintai and Dongping has been shortened by nearly two hours as a result.

Looking forward, Tai'an will continue making efforts to promote the construction of transportation infrastructure and improve the quality of transportation services to provide a solid foundation for the high-quality development of the city.