The overhaul of the Beijing Capital Airport expressway has been started on Sunday evening, the first of its kind in 13 years since it opened, said the municipal authorities.

Construction work, due to be finished on September 28, will be done between 23 p.m. and 6 a.m. during the period, to ensure daytime operation of the expressway.

Stretching 18.735 kilometers, the Capital Airport expressway opened to traffic in 1993.

While highways should go through overhauls every ten years, the Capital Airport expressway has served three years longer.

"Now crack and damage could be found on the road," said the chief engineer surnamed Zhou who presided over the overhaul.

Work of the overhaul will include road paving and upgrading of monitoring, communication, tolling and illuminating systems, Zhou noted.

(Xinhua News Agency July 17, 2006)