Since February 2014, with the spread of news that Baoding will become a “political sub-center,” the planning of “Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei integration” has become a focus of attention, and any developments regarding the coordinated development of the region have become a public focus. So how will the release of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei integration plan affect the economy of the region? Will the construction machinery industry benefit from it? This has become a key concern for the construction machinery industry and related sectors.

 

　　On April 9, the National Development and Reform Commission announced that it is working with relevant departments and localities to study and formulate plans for the integrated development of the capital economic circle, covering Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei. The development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region is termed “integration,” which is completely different from the previous concepts of “economic circle” or “urban agglomeration.” The so-called “integration” means that these three regions will be as convenient as one region, which requires significant adjustments. If adjusted properly, it will be a world-class model.

 

　　When it comes to urban integration, transportation is the first thing to note. How can these three regions develop to be as convenient as one region? This requires improving the current transportation network and increasing the construction of railways, highways, and high-speed rail lines. It is not difficult to notice that various regions in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei are also beginning to plan their transportation network construction and re-layout.

 

　　A responsible person from the Planning Department of the Beijing Municipal Transport Commission recently revealed that the state is unifying the compilation of transportation plans in accordance with the requirements of the three provinces and municipalities, and the transportation plan should be adjusted in sync with the industrial layout and urban layout of the three places.

 

　　It is disclosed that the goal of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei transportation integration is that by 2020, there will be three expressways connecting each of the three central cities of Beijing, Tianjin, and Shijiazhuang. According to the plan, counties (cities, districts) around Beijing and Tianjin will be connected to Beijing and Tianjin by at least one first-class highway, with 14 and 15 expressway interfaces respectively. The Tianjin-Shijiazhuang Expressway starts from the northeast ring of the Shijiazhuang Ring Expressway, passes through Wuji, Shenze, Hejian, and Dacheng to Tianjin, with about 50 kilometers in Shijiazhuang section and 38.8 kilometers in Tianjin section.

 

　　Beijing: “Seventh Ring” expected to be completed next year

 

　　Beijing's Grand Outer Ring Expressway project, also known as the “Seventh Ring,” is about 940 kilometers long, including about 90 kilometers in Beijing (the Beijing section of the Miyun-Zhuozhou Expressway and the Beijing section of the Chengde-Pinggu Expressway) and about 850 kilometers in Hebei Province. The project is expected to be completed next year. After completion, Hebei will have 11 expressways, including Jingcheng, Mizhuo, and Chengping, converging directly to Beijing. The existing transit traffic in southeastern Beijing, especially freight transit traffic, will gradually shift to the peripheral areas of Beijing.

 

　　Hebei accelerates Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei transportation integration; Beijing-Zhangjiakou intercity railway may start construction in the first half of the year

 

　　According to the Hebei Provincial Department of Transportation, Langfang, Zhangjiakou, Hengshui, and other cities are focusing on serving, undertaking, and integrating with Beijing and Tianjin, and striving to promote Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei transportation integration. Among them, the Beijing-Zhangjiakou intercity railway is expected to start construction in the first half of the year. After completion, the travel time by train from Zhangjiakou to Beijing will be shortened from the current four to five hours to more than 40 minutes. By then, Zhangjiakou will enter Beijing's one-hour transportation circle.

 

　　Zhangjiakou: Construction of 4 expressways and 3 railways accelerated

 

　　This year, Zhangjiakou City will specifically promote key projects included in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei transportation integration development plan, accelerate the integration process, and focus on promoting the construction of 4 expressways, 3 railways, and 2 passenger transport hubs. Among the 4 new expressways, the third phase of the Jingxin Expressway has completed bidding, and the control project will soon start construction, with all roadbed construction to start within the year; the Beijing-Hebei boundary to Zhangzhuo Expressway section of the Jingwei Expressway has been included in the new projects for the Olympic bid plan, and coordination with the Beijing Municipal Transport Commission on planning and construction is underway.

 

　　Langfang: Break through dead-end and bottleneck roads between Beijing, Tianjin, and Langfang in the next two years

 

　　Langfang City is accelerating the construction of a zero-obstacle, seamless transportation system for Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei. In the next two years, it will fully promote the construction of 12 Beijing-Tianjin-Langfang transportation connection projects, with a total mileage of 306 kilometers and a total investment of about 33.57 billion yuan. At the same time, it will implement projects to connect dead-end and bottleneck roads between Beijing, Tianjin, and Langfang. Among them, there are 7 expressway projects totaling 240.5 kilometers, with a total investment of about 31.4 billion yuan. The Langfang section of the Jingtai Expressway will be completed and opened to traffic within the year. The main project of the Langfang section of the Mizhuo Expressway is striving to be completed in 2015. The Beijing-Hebei and Tianjin-Hebei connection sections of the Jingqin Expressway and the Jinshi Expressway are striving to start construction within the year. The route plan for the Tanglang Expressway has been initiated, and a connection agreement has been signed with Tianjin, striving to start construction in 2015. The route plan for the Beijing New Airport connecting line has been initiated, striving to complete preliminary work in 2015.

 

　　Hengshui: Promote inclusion of expressway to the new capital airport in the plan

 

　　Hengshui City has designated 2014 as a year of accelerated development, reflected in transportation infrastructure construction as follows: accelerate the construction of expressway projects to ensure early completion and opening to traffic; promote the construction of new and reconstructed national and provincial trunk lines; carry out “green corridor” construction. Promote the inclusion of the Hengshui to New Capital Airport Expressway in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei coordinated development plan. Vigorously supervise the construction of the Hengshui section of the Xingheng Expressway and the Gucheng branch of the Hengde Expressway. Solidly advance the preliminary work of the Henggang Expressway and Shiheng Expressway.

 

　　Tianjin: Simultaneous construction of expressways and subways

 

　　On the 12th, it was learned from the urban and rural construction work conference that this year Tianjin has more than 6,000 projects under construction, with a construction area of 133 million square meters. Investment in municipal transportation and railway construction is 61.7 billion yuan, with 525 construction projects arranged, including 192 continued projects and 333 new projects; 247 projects are planned to be completed within the year, making the construction task very arduous. This year will be a key year for transportation construction, with 6 subways under simultaneous construction and 11 expressways under simultaneous implementation, connecting the traffic nodes between expressways and the outer ring road. At the end of August, Terminal 2, the airport transportation center, and the airport extension line of Metro Line 2 will be completed simultaneously.

 

　　11 expressways under simultaneous construction

 

　　Tianjin's expressway plan has a total mileage of 1,400 kilometers, of which 1,100 kilometers had been completed by the end of last year. This year, 11 expressway sections totaling 358 kilometers are under construction. Within the year, ensure the completion of the second phase of Tangcheng, Jingqin, Jinhan, the first phase of the West Outer Ring, the reconstruction and expansion of Tangjin Expressway, and the renovation of Jingjintang Expressway. At the same time, accelerate the progress of ongoing projects such as the second phase of Jingang and Binshi Expressway, focusing on promoting roadbed earthwork and bridge and culvert projects. By the end of the year, 80% of the roadbed filling and 50% of the bridge superstructure for the first phase of Tanglang will be completed; 10% of the roadbed filling and 20% of the bridge substructure for the Jishan connecting line (Jingjin Expressway to Gangcheng Avenue) section will be completed; 80% of the roadbed filling and 50% of the bridge superstructure for the Jishan connecting line (Jinbin Expressway to Jinjin Expressway) section will be completed; ensure that a batch of expressways will be completed in 2015 and 2016.

 

　　Construction of Metro Lines 4 and 10 to start this year

 

　　To solve the transportation problems of a mega-city through rail transit construction, on the basis of 4 operating and 2 under-construction metro lines, the city plans to start construction of Metro Lines 4 and 10 within this year, increasing passenger capacity by 500,000 person-times and further improving the level of public transportation development.

 

　　At present, the central urban area has 13 planned metro lines with a total length of 424 kilometers. Currently, Lines 1, 2, 3, 9, and the southern extension of Line 3 are in operation, totaling 134 kilometers, with an average daily passenger volume of 800,000 person-times. Lines 5, 6, the airport line of Line 2, and the eastern extension of Line 1, totaling 105 kilometers, are under construction.

 

　　Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei integration: Localities taking action

 

　　This year, in accordance with the new requirements for coordinated development of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, Hebei Province has adjusted the allocation of fiscal funds, including an additional 200 million yuan in reward and subsidy funds to support the surrounding areas of Beijing and Tianjin in undertaking the transfer of advantageous industrial projects.

 

　　Regarding Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei integration, Hebei Province currently appears very enthusiastic. It has just issued the “Opinions on Promoting New Urbanization in Hebei Province,” which clearly proposes that Baoding should undertake the relocation of some administrative institutions, universities, research institutes, and medical and elderly care functions from the capital. Langfang will take the construction of the new capital airport and the airport economic zone as an opportunity to increase efforts to introduce functional resources such as science and technology, education, medical care, and exhibition from Beijing. In addition, corresponding positioning has been made for cities such as Shijiazhuang, Tangshan, Chengde, and Zhangjiakou.

 

　　Tianjin seems to place more emphasis on the Binhai New Area in the integration. Tianjin Vice Mayor Zong Guoying stated at this year's National “Two Sessions” that in the integration process, Binhai New Area should play the role of spatial carrier and practical platform. Regarding the focus of the new area in the coordinated development of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, he said that the positioning of the new area is to become a spatial carrier and practical platform for the convergence of factors, industrial integration, and interactive innovation of the three places.

 

　　With the release of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei integration construction plan, construction in the three regions is in full swing, and local governments have also given great policy and economic support. This is undoubtedly good news for the construction machinery industry. With the launch of projects in various places, the market demand for construction machinery will rapidly expand, which is a delicious cake for construction machinery enterprises. Although the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei integration plan will bring a huge market to the construction machinery industry, we remind construction machinery enterprises not to be blinded by the immediate beautiful prospects and act blindly. Remember to carefully analyze the market, understand the market, and plan reasonably.