The Beijing Airport Express is one of the most congested roads in the capital. (Photo/Beijing News)
(ECNS) – The Beijing Airport Express, one of the most congested roads in the capital, may end years of toll-free service to reduce downtown-bound vehicle traffic.
Beijing municipal government announced that relevant departments are studying the need and feasibility of such a move.
The Airport Express lowered toll charges twice in 2009 and 2011. Traffic started to get heavier and heavier since then, with time choked in traffic as high as 14 hours on a daily average.
In 2014, the daily amount of downtown-bound vehicles stood at 180,000. The road near Wuyuanqiao Bridge (intersection of Airport Express and Beijing's 5th ring road) experienced daily traffic of 145,000 cars, four times the designed amount.
Departments have issued 11 regulations to address the problem since 2013. They expanded the section near Wuyuanqiao Bridge, and built Yaojiayuan Express to connect with the second Airport Express. They're also thinking to extend the southern section of the second Airport Express to the downtown area.
These measures are taking effect, but are far from enough to address serious congestion problems. The government is studying whether ending toll-free travel could help reduce the number of vehicles on the express.
