This year marks the 5th anniversary of the concept of people's city. As the place where it was first proposed, Yangpu is thriving with a flourishing digital economy and a dynamic, youthful spirit. Let's immerse ourselves in this city that is becoming increasingly "YOUNG" for the people...

At 10 p.m. on August 2, the eastern section of Beiheng Passage marked a historic moment by opening for trial traffic. After a decade of construction, the mainline of the passage has achieved overall connectivity. Residents along this vital east-west traffic artery in north Shanghai have long anticipated the final opening.

At 10 p.m. on August 2, the barriers at the Huangxing Road entrance of Beiheng Passage were removed by staff, signaling the official opening of the eastern section to the public. Right after 10 p.m., the first group of drivers ventured onto the new section.

"Traveling from Zhejiang North Road to Huangxing Road takes only about three to five minutes. The eastern section of Beiheng Passage is wider than the western section, offering a great driving experience," said citizen Mr. Liu.

Citizen Mr. Li shared that with the opening of the eastern section of Beiheng Passage, his daily commute has been significantly shortened, saving at least half the time it took to travel from work to home.

Beiheng Passage is reported to be the country's first ultra-long, large-scale underground expressway in the urban core area, extending from Beihong Road Interchange on the middle ring road in the west to the intersection of Zhoujiazui Road and Neijiang Road in the east, spanning 19.1 kilometers. It is designed with four lanes in both directions, plus emergency or dispersal lanes on each side, with a designed speed of 60 kilometers per hour and a height restriction of 3 meters.

The western section of Beiheng Passage (from Beihong Interchange to Rehe Road) opened to traffic in June 2021. The newly opened eastern section starts at the Wen'an Road connection point at Tianmu Interchange in the west, linking up with the already opened western section, and extends to Zhoujiazui Road and Neijiang Road in the east, spanning approximately 8.2 kilometers long. It features three pairs of entry and exit ramps at Xinjian Road, Gongping Road and Huangxing Road, and one pair of ground connection ramps at Shuangyang Road.

Ni Jiahui, Deputy Chief of the Mobile Unit of the Yangpu Traffic Police Detachment, said that the opening of Beiheng Passage will help divert traffic from the inner ring and Yan'an Elevated Road, easing congestion.

For residents along Beiheng Passage, the opening of the eastern mainline means faster travel. There is a collective hope for the passage's early opening to facilitate quicker trips to Hongqiao. Citizen Mr. Wang expressed his excitement, noting that this is a people-oriented project that he has been eagerly anticipating for 10 years, and it is finally about to open to traffic.

Citizen Zhao said that due to the high volume of traffic in the vicinity, which often leads to congestion, driving has become quite stressful for him daily. He hoped that the opening of the new passage will alleviate traffic and make commuting smoother. Citizen Mr. Zhang, who frequently travels between Yangpu and Hongqiao for work, noted that the passage's opening has expedited his commute, saving him time on the road and boosting his work efficiency.

We learned that the full opening of Beiheng Passage provides direct access to the Hongqiao Hub to the west and, via Zhoujiazui Road Tunnel to the east, leads to Pudong New Area. It plays a significant role in enhancing the regional traffic environment, diverting transit traffic and easing the pressure on ground-level traffic.

Furthermore, in the long term, Beiheng Passage is expected to foster balanced regional development. It links Hongqiao International Central Business District in the western part of the visual field to the new economic industry hub - B·Link on the other end. Its alignment is continuously adjusted according to the direction of Shanghai's economic development, aiming to adapt to local conditions and stimulate economic growth along its route.

Traffic Advisory:

The management measures for the eastern section of Beiheng Passage are consistent with those of the already opened western section. The mainline is strictly off-limits to pedestrians, non-motorized vehicles (including those specifically for the disabled), motorcycles (including scooters), large passenger vehicles, freight vehicles, special operation vehicles, vehicles with driving school license plates and temporary test plates, vehicles with temporary plates from other provinces and cities, vehicles carrying hazardous materials, and other vehicles as stipulated by the Shanghai Municipal Regulations on Road Traffic Management.

Additionally, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily (except Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays), small passenger vehicles with license plates from other provinces and cities, vehicles with local temporary plates, unoccupied taxi vehicles, and vehicles driven by drivers during their probation period are prohibited. Moreover, it is crucial to observe the speed limits: 60 kilometers per hour on the mainline and 40 kilometers per hour on ramps. Overspeeding is not allowed. The entire Beiheng Passage has a height restriction of 3 meters, prohibiting entry by trucks and buses with yellow plates.