Expo-related road construction nears completion

The supporting transportation arteries for the Ninth China (Beijing) International Garden Expo are almost done, authorities said.

Three main roads in the capital's southwestern Fengtai district, once completed in early May, will provide substantial traffic convenience for visitors heading to the expo, which begins on May 18.

Ninty percent of the road project is completed, the Beijing Municipal Commission of Transport said.

The three main roads, together with the subways under construction, will also help accelerate the city's infrastructure construction while creating jobs for local residents, the commission said.

"The supporting facilities of the main road, including the forestry, will help improve the scenery of the district as well," said Sun Wenjian, the commission's publicity officer.

According to project manager Li Zhenguo, the new roads will further ease the capital's increasing traffic, especially that from neighboring provinces.

In addition, the supporting underground pipes and utilities will also further improve the city's infrastructure while accelerating the countryside construction nearby.

The expo, jointly held by the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development and the Beijing municipal government, will welcome its first batch of visitors on time on May 18, despite a fire on April 8 that destroyed part of the Yongding tower in the district.

The expo, which will run until November, will boast 46 exhibitions from 60 domestic cities, according to the organizing committee of the expo.