In April 2016, the provincial government issued the Outline of the 13th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development of Guangdong Province, clearly proposing for Zhongshan the strategic positioning of "building a regional comprehensive transportation hub on the west bank of the Pearl River." Focusing on the new goals and tasks, Zhongshan City further clarified the awareness of "grasping transportation in a big way, and grasping big transportation," and made every effort to promote the construction of transportation infrastructure. So, what is the current construction status of the regional comprehensive transportation hub on the west bank of the Pearl River? In this regard, on the day of the inspection activity, Gao Ruisheng, deputy mayor of Zhongshan City, gave a corresponding introduction.
　　Railway
　　Layout of a logistics center connecting to the European express line
　　"Zhongshan is accelerating the construction of the Shenzhen-Maoming Railway to enhance its medium- and long-distance radiation capacity facing the whole country," according to Gao Ruisheng. The Zhongshan section of the Shenzhen-Maoming Railway is about 40 kilometers long and is currently in the stage of feasibility study revision. Recently, China Railway Corporation is accelerating the feasibility study of the Shenzhen-Zhongshan-Jiangmen section of the Shenzhen-Maoming Railway project, and has included the project in the 2017 preparatory construction projects, striving to start construction by the end of 2017 or in the first half of 2018. At the same time, Zhongshan City is combining the planning and construction of the Zhongshan Station rail transit passenger hub, stepping up research and proposing an optimization plan for the Zhongshan section of the Shenzhen-Maoming Railway to connect to Zhongshan Station and the alignment within Zhongshan, actively strengthening communication with the Provincial Development and Reform Commission and Guangzhou Railway Group, and striving to incorporate the research results into the project feasibility study revision before China Railway Corporation organizes the feasibility study review.
　　On the other hand, "Zhongshan will leverage the Nansha Port Railway to build the Huangpu Station International Logistics Park." Gao Ruisheng stated that the Nansha Port Railway is a national first-class freight railway with a total length of about 80 kilometers, of which the Zhongshan section is 30.4 kilometers long. Construction started in October 2016 and is expected to be completed and opened to traffic by the end of 2020. The Nansha Port Railway includes Zhongshan Huangpu Station. Zhongshan City is planning to build the "Zhongshan Huangpu Station International Logistics Park" integrating railway, water transport, and highway, creating a modern comprehensive logistics center connecting to the European express line and an important freight node of the national "Belt and Road" initiative. The Zhongshan Huangpu Station International Logistics Park and its railway special line project have been recognized and supported by China Railway Corporation and Guangzhou Railway Group. At present, Zhongshan City is compiling special reports such as the "Industrial Development Research of Zhongshan Huangpu Railway International Logistics Park" and the "Feasibility Study Report of the Rail Connection Project from Nansha Port Railway Huangpu Station to the Logistics Park."
　　Rail Transit
　　Jointly promoting the Guangzhou-Zhongshan-Zhuhai-Macao Intercity Rail
　　"Zhongshan will accelerate the planning and construction of urban rail transit," according to Gao Ruisheng. In the first half of this year, Zhongshan City has successively opened high-speed rail services from Guangzhu Intercity Zhongshan Station to Beijing, Shanghai, Guilin, Changsha, Guiyang, Kunming, Nanning, Chaoshan, Zhengzhou, and other directions. "At present, our city can directly connect to the high-speed railway network leading to North China, Central China, East China, and Southwest China." On the other hand, it is collaborating with Guangzhou and Zhuhai to jointly plan and promote the Guangzhou-Zhongshan-Zhuhai-Macao Intercity Rail. "Starting from Pazhou in Guangzhou, passing through Nansha, our city's Minzhong, Shaxi, Banfu, Sanxiang to Hengqin in Zhuhai, it fills the gap in intercity rail in areas such as southeastern Guangzhou and southwestern Zhongshan, and is an important part of the rapid passenger transport corridor connecting the Pearl River Delta region with Macao." According to the introduction, at present, Zhongshan City is actively striving for the Provincial Development and Reform Commission to accelerate the inclusion of the project in the revision of the Pearl River Delta Intercity Rail Transit Network Plan, and requesting the initiation of preliminary work on the project before the end of the "13th Five-Year Plan."
　　In addition, Gao Ruisheng stated that Zhongshan will focus on promoting the planning and construction of the first phase of Urban Rail Line 1 and the extension of Guangzhou Metro Line 18 to Zhongshan. On March 2 this year, the National Development and Reform Commission has initiated the review of the "Zhongshan Urban Rail Transit Construction Plan (2017-2020)." "Zhongshan is advancing related work according to the task division of the "Implementation Plan for the Preliminary Work of the First Phase of Zhongshan Urban Rail Transit Line 1," ensuring that the project starts construction before the end of this year." In addition, Zhongshan City has commissioned the Guangzhou Metro Design Institute to carry out the "Research on the Scheme of Extending Guangzhou Rail Transit Line 18 to Zhongshan," and sent a letter to Guangzhou in mid-February, requesting that both alignment schemes of the project be included in the new round of urban rail network planning revision, and reserving the connection conditions for the branch line scheme from Panyu Square. "Guangzhou has feedback in principle support." Zhongshan City plans to start the revision of the urban rail transit network plan this year to further implement the connection schemes with Guangzhou Metro Line 18 and other surrounding cities' rail transit.
　　Highway
　　Building a "four vertical and five horizontal" expressway network
　　Speaking of the adjustment of highway network construction, Gao Ruisheng stated that Zhongshan will actively build a "four vertical and five horizontal" expressway network and a "three rings and twelve rays" trunk highway network, strengthen Zhongshan's external transportation connections, and fully integrate into the Pearl River Delta comprehensive transportation system. "First is to accelerate the promotion of 4 expressway projects under construction," Gao Ruisheng introduced. "The west artificial island of the main project of the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link started construction at the end of December 2016. As of the end of June 2017, a cumulative investment of about 1.05 billion yuan has been completed. The east artificial island project is scheduled to start in November this year, the main tunnel project will fully start before the end of December, and the bridge project will officially start in March next year." The second is the Guangzhou-Zhongshan-Jiangmen Expressway. "The first phase of the project was completed and opened to traffic on December 28, 2016. The second phase is mainly located in Jiangmen, and the third phase is mainly located in Zhongshan. At present, Zhongshan City is accelerating the construction of the third phase. As of the end of June, a cumulative investment of about 5.5 billion yuan has been completed, and it is expected to be completed and opened to traffic in 2019."
　　In addition, there is the Xianghai Bridge Expressway. "The cross-city grand bridge of the key project, the Modaomen Waterway section, started construction on December 16, 2016. At present, the steel temporary bridge has been completed, and the water drilling platform construction is underway. As of the end of June 2017, a cumulative investment of about 210 million yuan has been completed." Finally, there is the Zhongshan-Kaiping Expressway. "At present, the provincial government has agreed that the urban section of the Zhongshan section of the Zhongshan-Kaiping Expressway project adopts the south line scheme of the South Ring Road corridor, and the project is implemented in two phases. The first phase is from the starting point of the Zhongshan section to the Dachangshan Tunnel, about 11 kilometers long; the second phase is the urban section of Zhongshan, about 33 kilometers. The first phase started on June 20. As of the end of June, the project has completed a cumulative investment of about 260 million yuan."
　　Ensuring that 2 expressway projects start construction within the year
　　Gao Ruisheng also talked about the Eastern Outer Ring Expressway. He said, "According to the requirements of the provincial government, the Eastern Outer Ring Expressway project must start construction before the end of 2017. The first phase of the project (approved under the name of Eastern Outer Ring Expressway) starts at Dayan Island in Huangpu Town and ends at Ma'an Island connecting with Cuiheng Expressway, with Hengmen South Interchange. The advance section of the project will start before the end of the year; the second is the Western Outer Ring Expressway. "The Western Outer Ring Expressway includes the main line and branch lines, running through 9 towns and districts in the western part of Zhongshan, including Xiaolan, Guzhen, Henglan, Dongsheng, West District, Dachong, Banfu, Shenwan, and Tanzhou. The main line is about 62.2 kilometers long, and the Xiaolan branch line is about 15.9 kilometers long. The total length of the entire project route is about 78.1 kilometers. The project strives to start before the end of this year."
　　"Zhongshan will also simultaneously promote the construction of trunk highway projects," Gao Ruisheng stated. Zhongshan will focus on promoting 16 trunk highway projects, of which 9 projects have started construction, including the East First Ring (Changjiang Road rapid transformation), East Second Ring (Yixian Road rapid transformation), West Second Ring (Shaxi to Henglan section) and Henglan Expressway (Shaxi to Henglan section) (formerly the western section of Hengsi Line), North Second Ring (Shagang Road rapid transformation), Ray 2 Line (G105 North Line, G105 North Line and Xinshashui Highway intersection transformation), Ray 3 Line (Huangpu Expressway), Ray 4 Line (Sanjiao Expressway), Ray 5 Line (Minzhong Expressway), and Ray 8 Line (Nanlang Expressway). In addition, 7 projects are planned to start construction within the next 3 years: South First Ring, West Second Ring (Port to Henglan section, Henglan section), Ray 10 Line (G105 South Line), Ray 1 Line (Guzhen Expressway), Ray 9 Line (Tanzhou Expressway), Ray 6 Line (Torch Expressway), and Ray 11 Line (Dachong Expressway). The total construction mileage of trunk highways in three years is about 134 kilometers, with a total investment of about 19.2 billion yuan. At the same time, according to the standard of "every town has national and provincial roads," the "five vertical and three horizontal" national and provincial trunk highway network is planned. According to the plan, Zhongshan City will add 1 national highway and 2 provincial highways.
　　On-site visit
　　Changjiang Road expected to be fully connected on the main line by the end of next year
　　On the same day, the deputies to the People's Congress also came to the Kanghua Road reconstruction project site of the Zhongshan Ring Road transportation project. Kanghua Road is a major traffic artery in the main urban area, and the reconstruction project has always attracted much attention from citizens. The construction party introduced that it is expected that before the Spring Festival next year, the main roadway pavement construction from Dongming Bridge to Qiwan Road will be completed and opened to traffic, and the project will be completed before the end of May next year. "From now to November, the north half will be constructed first, and after November, the south half will be constructed. The project is going smoothly. Before the Spring Festival next year, we strive to open the main road surface and restore traffic. (Next year) in May, all engineering quantities will be completed." The housing and construction department stated that during the construction period, disturbances to residents will be minimized. "We have set up third-party social supervision. In the future, if deputies to the People's Congress, members of the CPPCC, or citizens have any opinions on civilized construction, they can remind us through the Internet, communication, telephone, etc." Jiao Lansheng made a request to the construction party: "Enclose only the section under construction, and provide the non-construction sections for public travel, minimizing the impact on traffic."
　　Changjiang Road is another key road section under reconstruction in the main urban area. After the reconstruction is completed, the main road will be widened to 8 lanes in both directions, and all 7 traffic lights along the line will be removed. It is expected that the main line will be fully connected by the end of next year. On the same day, the deputies to the People's Congress also went to the East Section of the First Ring project, the Changjiang Road rapid transformation site, and the Zhongshan-Kaiping Expressway starting point to learn about the project progress. At the Changjiang Road construction site, currently only some lanes are passable. Provincial People's Congress deputy Li Weiliang reported that sometimes the construction party occupies traffic lanes during morning and evening peak hours, causing even more congestion. "The construction plan and technology can be further improved. For example, do not do this during commuting (peak) hours. If the technology cannot be changed, can the construction time be changed?" In response, the person in charge of the construction party immediately replied, "We will optimize the construction plan according to your opinion. During the busy traffic hours every day, we will send more personnel to see what problems exist at this time, and then adjust the construction technology and plan in a targeted manner."