On the southwest side of Chongqing's Guanyinqiao commercial district, the Mahuangliang Interchange spans the city's main artery, Yu'ao Avenue. After renovation, this overpass—which carries an important transportation function—has taken on a completely new look, quietly awaiting the first vehicles to "set foot" here when it opens to traffic at the end of August this year. On May 17, the 2024 National Hundred Media Outlets event visited the construction site of the Mahuangliang Interchange Renovation Project, a Chongqing Urban Investment project then in its final stages. It is understood that the Mahuangliang Interchange Renovation Project is a municipal key road project in Chongqing. Once completed, it will improve traffic capacity at the intersection of Yu'ao Avenue and Jianxin West Road, allow traffic flows to enter and exit the Guanyinqiao ring road quickly, greatly ease the current traffic congestion at the west gate of the Guanyinqiao commercial district, and enhance the urban image of the western side of the Guanyinqiao urban tourism area.

The Mahuangliang Interchange Renovation Project under construction.

　　Renovation progress exceeds 90%

　　Full opening to traffic by the end of August this year

　　Walking onto the Mahuangliang Interchange, the road surface has been completely cleared. Standing at the highest point of the overpass and looking northeast, the Guanyinqiao commercial district is "within easy reach."

　　The project began construction in August 2020. It includes a 435-meter widening and renovation of the western section of Jianxin West Road, a 546-meter newly built eastern section, a 615-meter renovation of Yu'ao Avenue, and 188 meters of reconstructed roads. Two existing overpass bridges and two pedestrian bridges were demolished, and three new pedestrian bridges were built. The interchange proper has eight newly built ramps and one connecting branch road.

　　"The Mahuangliang Interchange renovation project is more than 90% complete, and the main bridge works have all been finished. We are currently carrying out the main structure construction of the C and G ramp underpasses, road ancillary works, and landscaping and decoration works," said Li Renke, site manager of the Mahuangliang Interchange Renovation Project at ** Engineering Co., Ltd. of China Railway 20th Bureau Group. He explained that this renovation not only widens and straightens the originally two-way four-lane Jianxin West Road into a two-way six-lane road, but also optimizes and upgrades the old interchange's four ramps into eight (one reserved for the long term), while increasing the area and quality of landscaping.

　　As of the end of April 2024, Jianxin West Road, the connecting branch road, the reconstructed Chemical Engineering College road, the A ramp, and the F ramp had all been completed and met traffic-opening conditions. The C ramp had reached 43% of its visual progress, the D ramp 85%, the G ramp 71%, and the H ramp 72%. The project is scheduled to fully open to traffic by the end of August this year.

　　Renovation faced numerous difficulties

　　Six traffic diversions carried out

　　The Mahuangliang Interchange Renovation Project is of great significance, but it also faces enormous difficulties and challenges.

　　The project is located in the city's core area, and construction was significantly affected by the surrounding environment. Li Renke said that underground pipelines are numerous and disorganized, with water, electricity, gas, and telecommunications lines requiring relocation totaling 6,200 meters. In addition, the project's location is special, environmental protection requirements are strict, effective working hours are short, some construction areas are narrow, and land-use red lines overlap with several nearby projects under construction, making land coordination difficult.

　　Moreover, to minimize the impact on public traffic, the interchange renovation required multiple traffic diversions, which objectively divided the project into multiple sections. According to the approved traffic organization plan, six traffic diversions are required during construction. Taking the currently implemented critical-path C and G ramp structures as an example, work must strictly follow the sequence of diverting traffic for one section, then building that section, then diverting traffic for the next, then building that section—making project organization highly challenging.

　　How were these problems overcome one by one?

　　The construction unit, Chongqing Urban Investment Infrastructure Construction Co., Ltd., actively coordinated and communicated with the Jiangbei District Government, while urging the relevant construction contractors to make advance arrangements for manpower, materials, and funding, further optimize the construction organization plan and schedule, adhere to equal emphasis on safety and quality, leverage professional advantages, optimize resource allocation, and ensure the full completion of all established milestone targets.

　　Renovation is of great significance

　　Clearing bottlenecks on key traffic routes

　　The Mahuangliang Interchange connects Yu'ao Bridge, Lijiaping, Guanyinqiao, and the Electronics College direction. It is not only a regional transportation hub but also the western main artery into and out of the Guanyinqiao urban tourism area.

　　"After the renovation, the interchange adds a turning function from Yu'ao Bridge toward Lijiaping, saving at least 5 minutes of driving time; previously, vehicles had to go to Hong'ensi Interchange to turn around," Li Renke said. Two-way traffic from the Electronics College toward Guanyinqiao and Lijiaping can also pass quickly via the ramps without waiting at traffic lights.

　　"The Guanyinqiao commercial district ring road currently carries a large volume of traffic, and congestion in the district has become normal. Renovation measures that can share the traffic pressure on the ring road are all very necessary," Li Renke said. The Mahuangliang Interchange renovation uses Huangguan Road to divert traffic traveling through the commercial district ring road to and from Wulidian, which will effectively divert transit traffic from the ring road and ease traffic pressure on it. At the same time, Jianxin West Road is straightened along the planned corridor to improve traffic conditions, and traffic organization is redone for surrounding branch roads and entrances connecting to the project, enhancing the overall traffic capacity of the area's road network.

　　By then, residents driving from Lijiaping Interchange to the Guanyinqiao ring road will no longer need to detour, saving about 10 minutes compared with the past. At the same time, the opening of Guanyinqiao's east-west main trunk road will help expand the Guanyinqiao commercial district.