With the continuous economic development of Yantai and the ongoing expansion of the city scale, the east-west traffic distance in the central urban area has reached over 90 kilometers, and the north-south distance has also reached over 20 kilometers. The existing urban traffic problems cannot be ignored, and there is an urgent need to open up convenient and smooth traffic connections among major clusters and key transportation hubs. In this regard, some citizens have suggested building a rapid road connecting the east and west urban districts to comprehensively enhance Yantai's carrying capacity.
　　The plan for building rapid connection corridors in Yantai's urban area is being reported
　　According to the "Yantai City Master Plan (2011-2020)," the urban area is planned to have six expressways and nine traffic trunk roads to organize rapid traffic between clusters. The six expressways form a "two axes and four links" rapid transit structure. The two axes are: the Rongcheng-Wuhai Expressway (Bajiao Interchange - Jiuguan Interchange); and National Highway 206 - Yongda Street - Hongqi Road - Guanhai Road - Laishan Expressway (Zhengezhuang Interchange - planned outer ring expressway). The four links are: Fuhuan Road (West Ring), Huagong South Road, Shanhai Road (Hongqi Road - planned outer ring expressway), and Muping East Ring Road (Rongcheng-Wuhai Expressway - planned outer ring expressway). Among them, Hongqi Road is an important component of the expressway system.
　　In conjunction with the city master plan, comprehensive transportation plan, rail transit network plan, and other various road traffic special plans, the Municipal Planning Bureau has carried out special research on the urban area's rapid transit issues. Following the principles of "economical and practical, highly implementable, prioritizing urgent needs, and phased implementation," it has proposed near-, medium-, and long-term construction strategies from the aspects of the urban expressway system and urban rapid public transit, forming the "Planning Concept for Building Rapid Connection Corridors in Yantai's Urban Area."
　　At present, the "Planning Concept for Building Rapid Connection Corridors in Yantai's Urban Area" has been reported to the municipal leader in charge and is being prepared for reporting to the main municipal leaders. The Planning Bureau is also organizing the compilation of the "Yantai Comprehensive Transportation System Plan," which will also conduct planning research on the urban road system, focusing on the urban expressway system and forming a special report. Next, the Planning Bureau will conduct in-depth coordination and research with the compiling unit based on the compilation of the "Yantai Comprehensive Transportation System Plan," and determine the urban area expressway system planning scheme as soon as possible through expert demonstration.
　　The implementation planning approach for the rapidization of Hongqi Road has been initially determined
　　Due to historical reasons, Hongqi Road and several other planned urban expressways were not built to urban expressway standards. Therefore, as an important component of the planned urban expressway system, Hongqi Road has many at-grade intersections at traffic nodes, large pedestrian crossing volumes, many entrances and exits for construction projects on both sides of the road, and chaotic parking.
　　The overall approach of the 5-10 year medium-term strategy in the "Planning Concept for Building Rapid Connection Corridors in Yantai's Urban Area" is: plan and build a Xingfu South Road expressway connecting to the Shenhai Expressway, mainly to solve the rapid evacuation of traffic from the old Zhifu urban area, Xingfu area, and old port area to the Rongcheng-Wuhai Expressway; plan, renovate, and implement Hongqi Road and Gangcheng East-West Avenue to expressway standards to better address east-west rapid traffic connections between clusters and make traffic between districts faster and smoother.
　　Regarding the specific plan for the rapidization renovation of Hongqi Road, the Municipal Planning Bureau will conduct detailed demonstration in conjunction with the "Yantai Comprehensive Transportation System Plan." At present, the compiling unit is conducting specific engineering design demonstration for the renovation plan of Hongqi Road. It has been initially determined to start the elevated section from the west side of the Jiahe River on G15, pass through Jiahe Park, and then run east along Hongqi Road to Guanhai Road. The Huangjinding Tunnel and Kuixinglou Tunnel need to be expanded, ultimately achieving rapid closed operation for the entire road section. If this plan is difficult to implement in the near term, consideration may be given to implementing it in the near term according to quasi-expressway standards, achieving continuous traffic flow on the main line with no intersections, retaining entrances and exits for vehicles entering and exiting on both sides without closure, controlling according to a 50-60 meter red line, and reserving land conditions for full-line elevated construction in the long term. This renovation plan is still under further study and demonstration and needs to pass expert review before the final plan is determined.