Freeways in China
China has enjoyed a remarkable economic growth rate that has averaged 9.4 percent per annum over the last 20 years, based on data from the State Development Planning Commission. If you have never been in China, it will be hard to believe this amazing growth rate. But if you know how many freeways built over the last 10 years, you will at least have some idea of the dramatic changes in China.
China's first freeway was opened to traffic in 1988, an 18.5-km freeway from Shanghai to Jiading. Now 14 years later, the total length of freeways in China is over 19,000 km, ranked second in the world in terms of length. The following is the outline of the development of Chinese freeways.
[The U.S. has over 61,000 km of Interstate Highways.]
- 1988 - the first freeway opened. The freeway is only 18.5 km from Shanghai to Jiading.
- 1990 - Shen Da Freeway completed. This is a 375-km freeway from Shenyang to Dalian.
- 1993 - Two freeways opened. Jing Jin Tang Freeway (143 km) connects Beijing, Tianjin and Tanggu. Ji Qing Freeway (318 km) is from Jinan to Qingdao.
- 1995 - Cheng Yu Freeway completed. It is a 340-km freeway between Chengdu and Chongqing.
- 1996 - Hu Ning Freeway opened. The 275-km freeway is between Shanghai and Nanjing.
- 1998 - the total length of freeways reached 8733 km, ranked fourth in the world.
- 1999 - the total length of freeways reached 10,000 km.
- 2000 - the total length of freeways reached 16,000 km, ranked third in the world. Jing Hu Freeway (Beijing to Shanghai, 1262 km) and Jing Shen Freeway (Beijing to Shenyang, 658 km) were completed.
- Sept. 2002 - the total length of freeways reached 19,000 km, ranked second in the world.
source: chineseculture.about.com/library/weekly/aa_freeway02a.htm
U.S. Highways