Beijing will spend 200 billion yuan (US$25 billion) on construction of expressways, rail lines and intelligent transport systems in the coming five years, according to a local official.

Beijing's investment in infrastructure construction would make up 60 percent of the city's total fixed assets investment for the 2006-2010 period, said Zhao Wenzhi, head of the Beijing Municipal Transportation Committee, at a briefing on government affairs held on Sunday.

Zhao said construction of six expressways, including the third phase project of the Beijing-Chengde expressway, the northern section of the airport expressway, western section of the Sixth Ring Road and Beijing-Baotou expressway, would begin this year.

Three of the six expressways will be completed and open to traffic before the end of this year and the rest will be completed and open to traffic in the next five years. With the completion and operation of No. 4, No. 5, No. 10 and two other subway lines, the total length of Beijing's transit rail lines that are open to traffic will extend to 270 kilometers in the next five years from the current 115 kilometers, Zhao said.

Several other rail line projects, including the No. 9 subway line, the second phase of the No. 10 subway and Yizhuang subway lines will also be constructed during the next five-year period.

(Xinhua News Agency January 16, 2006)