"Five interior framework roads open for traffic this year, and ten more begin construction," announced Yang Hang, Director of the Sichuan-Chongqing Gaozhu New Area's Construction Management Service Center, on April 27. He enthusiastically discussed the Area's major initiatives in transportation infrastructure developments for the year, referring to a traffic-planning map.
"Today's shipment will not take the traditional route but will follow the new path." Sichuan Sui Tong Technology Co., Ltd., based in the New Area, is preparing to send a batch of products to Chongqing Cuntan Port. Deputy General Manager Zhong Shoujun remarks, "Travelling the recently opened Nanbei Avenue is time-saving, cost-effective, and worry-reducing."
While navigating the Sichuan-Chongqing Gaozhu New Area, China's sole inter-provincial co-construction zone, the journalist observed the Area's efforts in driving the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle, from the Sichuan Road to the developing Chongqing Road Phase III, and from Chuan-Yu Road to Yu-Guang Road and Linshui Road. These road names, either established or prospective, underscore the Area's determination to strengthen connectivity with Chongqing and bridge the transportation gap where geographical proximity does not translate into swift transport.
Since its establishment, the Sichuan-Chongqing Gaozhu New Area has completed 12 transportation projects, connecting to Chongqing, and is rapidly developing its backbone road network.
A Road jointly built: the industrial avenue for Sichuan and Chongqing
Nanbei Avenue, mentioned by Zhong Shoujun, stretches from the Konggang Industrial Park in Chongqing to the Sichuan-Chongqing Gaozhu New Area, encompassing a total length of 35 kilometers. Among its developments, the Nanbei Avenue Phase III project, starting from Cizhu Town in Chongqing's Yubei District and ending in Gaotan Town, Linshui County, Guang'an City, marks the first urban highway in Chongqing's central urban area to extend beyond its municipal boundaries.
"The change brought by this road is huge," remarks Xia Tiancai, a resident of Shimahe Village in Gaotan Town. He notes that with the full opening of Nanbei Avenue, his travel time to Chongqing has been reduced from over an hour to just 30 minutes.
"Recently, over 10 young people from our hometown village have returned, some to work and some to start businesses," notes Xia Mi, who works in Shimahe Village. Xia Mi explains that with the avenue now open, enterprises in the New Area are receiving more orders, leading to constant recruitment and increasing job opportunities.
The avenue also serves nearly 100 enterprises settled in the New Area by efficiently connecting Dazhou, Bazhong, and other regions in northeastern Sichuan, substantially reducing their logistics and transportation expenses.
"After the road opens, our company's medium-sized agricultural machinery, previously transported on small trucks, will now be shifted on trailer trucks for delivery to Chongqing. This change is expected to reduce our annual logistics costs by nearly one million yuan," Said Zhong Shoujun.
The complete opening of Nanbei Avenue encapsulates the rapid development of transportation infrastructure in the New Area. In 2020, the Sichuan-Chongqing Gaozhu New Area was officially established. "Despite its proximity to Chongqing, the New Area confronts notable challenges in traffic speed and fluidity," explained Yang Hang. At that time, the quickest route from the New Area to Chongqing was along the National Highway 210, a route characterized by its numerous bends and narrow roads, taking nearly an hour to travel. "We eagerly aspire to build a comprehensive transport network that is easy and efficient to use. This network will be a 'bridge' facilitating the integration development with Chongqing, thereby infusing greater vitality into the development of the New Area."
Daily, the third phase of Nanbei Avenue witnesses over 5,000 vehicles. Projections estimate that the annual vehicle count on this road will exceed 2 million instances. The avenue is poised to reduce logistics costs by over 60 yuan per ton for goods transported from the New Area to Chongqing, solidifying its status as a veritable logistics and industrial thoroughfare.
A network ensuring connectivity: enhancing livability and business appeal of New Area
"New road nears completion." Workers are busy planting greenery at the construction site of the second phase of the Chongqing Road in the Sichuan-Chongqing Gaozhu New Area. This crucial stretch acts as the main industrial artery in the New Area and is a vital part of the "three verticals" within the broader "three verticals and seven horizontals" road network, aimed at ensuring smooth internal connectivity.
Meanwhile, over ten excavators, in conjunction with soil trucks, have transported more than 10,000 cubic meters of earth and rock from the site of the third phase of the Chongqing Road project. Preliminary documents for the project's fourth phase are already compiled on Yang Hang's desk. The Chongqing Road now spans a length of 2.3 kilometers. Upon completion of the third and fourth phases, it will accommodate nearly 40 enterprises along its stretch.
Presently, the Sichuan-Chongqing Gaozhu New Area is accelerating the formation of the "three verticals and seven horizontals" backbone road network, designed to ensure smooth internal connectivity. This year, five roads named in the theme of Sichuan-Chongqing cooperation, including the Yu-Guang Road, Guang'an Road, Yubei Road, Linshui Road, and Huayingshan Road, are set to be completed. Notably, two of these routes will extend to the pinnacle of Huaying Mountain, towering at 1,590 meters above sea level, significantly facilitating smooth access for the cultural and tourism industry in the New Area.
In terms of external connectivity, in addition to promoting the planning and construction of highways and expressways, Guang'an and the Sichuan-Chongqing Gaozhu New Area are actively advancing the preliminary work for the Chongqing-Guang'an Railway project. Upon completion of the this intercity railway, connecting Chongqingbei Railway Station with Guang'an, travel time from the New Area to the main urban area of Guang'an will be reduced to just 30 minutes. Additionally, travel to Chongqing's urban area will be truncated to under 20 minutes, dramatically collapsing both spatial and temporal distances.
Sichuan, Chongqing, and the Sichuan-Chongqing Gaozhu New Area are refining services to ensure the public experiences the ease and convenience arising from these transportation improvements.
"At daybreak, I gather bamboo shoots in the mountains, and by midday, they're ready for sale at the farmers' market in Chongqing's Yubei District," remarks 67-year-old Gong Guoming, who, carrying his produce, boards the Sichuan-Chongqing Route 20 bus at the Gaozhu New Area's bus terminal, heading towards Chongqing. Since the inception of the Sichuan-Chongqing Route 20 bus, Gong Guoming has become a regular passenger. "I used to sell vegetables locally, but now I head to Chongqing," he says. "Since the year started, I've made an extra 5,000 yuan compared to the same time last year."
"This year, we've ramped up the frequency of the Sichuan-Chongqing Route 20 buses and initiated express services catering to high-traffic stops. We now operate nearly 20 one-way trips daily and intend to continue fine-tuning our schedule and routes," noted He Zhigang, the head of the route team at the Second Branch of Chongqing Dongcheng Public Transport Company Limited.
This year marks the decisive phase of Guang'an City's three-year integration transport campaign, with a goal to complete investments totaling 17 billion yuan in its comprehensive transportation infrastructure. Come February 2025, Guang'an is poised to substantially complete a backbone road network that integrates regional transit, links dual cores, and facilitates national connection. "Positioned as a pivotal hub for Sichuan-Chongqing collaboration, the New Area's interconnectivity will be markedly enhanced, offering greater convenience and efficiency," envisioned Yang Hang.
