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Beijing Plans to Build Underground Road Network

Plans to move some of Beijing's traffic flows to subsurface roadways were discussed at a high-level forum on June 26, 2004.

Participants in the Urban Underground Space Development Forum, sponsored by the Beijing Municipal Engineering Corporation, discussed using space underground and related construction technologies.

The city has determined there's sufficient space available 50 metres underground, which can be used to build a network of communication lines.

Building an underground expressway is a big part of the project. Analysts said the cost of constructing underground roads could be as much as half that of subways.

These underground roads would be designed to have many entrances throughout the city and would connect with the above-ground road system.

The city reportedly intends to build more underground malls, entertainment facilities, and parking lots with better safety systems.

Experts said traffic congestion in the city could be solved if the city exploits just one-third of the underground space available to it.

Statistics indicate that 100 or so intersections in Beijing suffer from traffic jams during rush hours.

The programme would also be helpful for protecting cultural areas in the city, some of which have been destroyed for the expansion of roads in the past.

The city already has great experience with underground projects. About 242 kilometres of subways lines are expected to be in place by 2008.