Jingjintang Expressway
Encyclopedia
Opened in September 1993, the Jingjintang Expressway , also known as the Jingtang Expressway, links Beijing
via central Tianjin
to the Tanggu District in eastern Tianjin. 143 kilometres in length, it crosses the jurisidictions of Beijing
and Tianjin
municipalities and Hebei
province.
Tolls apply as of Dayangfang near the Eastern 5th Ring Road in Beijing until the Tanggu/TEDA exit. The expressway uses a networked toll system across all jurisdictions and is managed by Huabei (North China) Expressways.
and Tianjin
, as well as Hebei
province.
Basic Route: Beijing
(Fenzhongsi
- Shibalidian
- Dayangfang - Majuqiao - Caiyu) - Langfang
(Hebei
) - Tianjin
(Yangcun - Central Tianjin - Tianjin Airport - Tanggu District/TEDA
).
Status: The entire expressway is complete.
This expressway has slashed driving time from Beijing to Tianjin to around one hour, and has created a corridor between Beijing and Tianjin.
On October 19, 2004, seven vehicles involved in three accidents plunged into each other in early morning fog, killing two and injuring many more on the stretch of expressway from Beijing to Tianjin, at the stretch between Majuqiao and Caiyu.
A variation of the proposed routes leaves Beijing heading toward Pinggu District
, and links with the Jinji Expressway
.
section from Fenzhongsi
through Shibalidian
has a mixed speed limit of 70 km/h or 80 km/h (only when leaving Beijing).
(Fenzhongsi
- Shibalidian
) has 6 lanes (3 up, 3 down).
, Dayangfang, Majuqiao, Caiyu, Langfang
, Yangcun, Yixingbu, Central Tianjin
, Tianjin
Airport, Tanggu
: Connects with the SW 3rd Ring Road at Fenzhongsi
, the SW 4th Ring Road at Shibalidian
, the SW 5th Ring Road at Dayangfang and the SW 6th Ring Road at Majuqiao.
Jinghu Expressway
: Connects with the Jinghu Expressway at Yixingbu.
Jinji Expressway
: Connects with the newly-opened Jinji Expressway at Central Tianjin
exit (Jinzhong Road).
Tianjin Outer Ring Road
: Connects at Yixingbu.
In November 2004, however, things looked very different. Incessant traffic jams, breakdowns, and chaos on the expressway earned it a more popular nickname -- the "road of death".
The very problem lies within the expressway itself -- massive traffic. The expressway was designed for a traffic audience of 50,000 vehicles a day -- and apparently, not a vehicle more, as the current average of 59,000 vehicles a day is stretching the expressway to its limits. Meanwhile, during periods of high use, 130,000 vehicles are reported to be using the expressway -- per day.
Compounding the problem is a very narrow (2.4 m in width) hard shoulder, and the lack of emergency bays. Compound that with fog in the southeastern Beijing section, and no lights at night outside of the 4th Ring Road (Beijing)
, and one understands why the label "road of death" sticks so well to the expressway today.
was a different country back in 1993, when the expressway first opened. For a start, there were fewer drivers, and traffic -- especially expressway traffic -- was less of a problem. Therefore, when the expressway opened in September 1993, it could cope rather well with just two lanes in one direction -- for over a hundred kilometres.
Things changed in the late 1990s. Private citizens could apply for driver's licences with greater ease, and traffic as a whole increased on PRC roads. The situation on the expressway in 2004, therefore, is different from that of 1993.
A 2004 traffic jam -- or traffic disturbance -- that upset just one lane (not to mention more than one lane), would upset the entire expressway. Traffic would begin to pile up for kilometres and hours on end. The relative lack of exits (only ten for the entire stretch) could further compound the problem.
As it forms a vital corridor for traffic from Tianjin
and Tanggu
, the expressway is often full of lorries. Two lorries overtaking each other would shrink average speed limits for the car following behind considerably -- from the legal 110 km/h down to approximately 80 km/h or sometimes even 60 km/h.
The expressway today, therefore, is not just a corridor for traffic, but also potentially one for traffic problems.
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
via central Tianjin
Tianjin
' is a metropolis in northern China and one of the five national central cities of the People's Republic of China. It is governed as a direct-controlled municipality, one of four such designations, and is, thus, under direct administration of the central government...
to the Tanggu District in eastern Tianjin. 143 kilometres in length, it crosses the jurisidictions of Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
and Tianjin
Tianjin
' is a metropolis in northern China and one of the five national central cities of the People's Republic of China. It is governed as a direct-controlled municipality, one of four such designations, and is, thus, under direct administration of the central government...
municipalities and Hebei
Hebei
' is a province of the People's Republic of China in the North China region. Its one-character abbreviation is "" , named after Ji Province, a Han Dynasty province that included what is now southern Hebei...
province.
Tolls apply as of Dayangfang near the Eastern 5th Ring Road in Beijing until the Tanggu/TEDA exit. The expressway uses a networked toll system across all jurisdictions and is managed by Huabei (North China) Expressways.
Route
The Jingjintang Expressway runs through the municipalities of BeijingBeijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
and Tianjin
Tianjin
' is a metropolis in northern China and one of the five national central cities of the People's Republic of China. It is governed as a direct-controlled municipality, one of four such designations, and is, thus, under direct administration of the central government...
, as well as Hebei
Hebei
' is a province of the People's Republic of China in the North China region. Its one-character abbreviation is "" , named after Ji Province, a Han Dynasty province that included what is now southern Hebei...
province.
Basic Route: Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
(Fenzhongsi
Fenzhongsi
Fenzhongsi is a transportational node in Beijing.It is the starting point of the Jingjintang Expressway to Langfang, Tianjin and Tanggu.Fenzhongsi lies on the southeastern segment of the 3rd Ring Road....
- Shibalidian
Shibalidian
thumb|300px|The Shibalidian transportational node.Shibalidian is the name of a transportational node in Beijing, China. Flanked by several overpasses, it is where the southeastern 4th Ring Road links with the Jingjintang Expressway...
- Dayangfang - Majuqiao - Caiyu) - Langfang
Langfang
Langfang , Hebei province, China, is a prefecture-level city located approximately midway between Beijing and Tianjin with a total population of 3.85 million and an urban area population of 763,700. Its total area is around 6,429 km²...
(Hebei
Hebei
' is a province of the People's Republic of China in the North China region. Its one-character abbreviation is "" , named after Ji Province, a Han Dynasty province that included what is now southern Hebei...
) - Tianjin
Tianjin
' is a metropolis in northern China and one of the five national central cities of the People's Republic of China. It is governed as a direct-controlled municipality, one of four such designations, and is, thus, under direct administration of the central government...
(Yangcun - Central Tianjin - Tianjin Airport - Tanggu District/TEDA
Teda
The Teda are a Toubou people who live mostly in northern Chad, but is present also in Libya, Niger and Nigeria. They speak Tedaga, a Nilo-Saharan language, and are very close ethnically and culturally with the Daza. They likely number more than 50,000, and are Muslims....
).
Status: The entire expressway is complete.
History
The expressway opened on September 25, 1993, and was the first express to be built to more recent standards.This expressway has slashed driving time from Beijing to Tianjin to around one hour, and has created a corridor between Beijing and Tianjin.
Accidents
Areas of the expressway are many times very foggy and that has led to a number of accidents.On October 19, 2004, seven vehicles involved in three accidents plunged into each other in early morning fog, killing two and injuring many more on the stretch of expressway from Beijing to Tianjin, at the stretch between Majuqiao and Caiyu.
Portions under Construction or Projection
With a history of over ten years, the expressway is beginning to feel the crunch of massive traffic, especially the incessant onslaught of heavy lorries. As a result, at least two other expressways linking Beijing to Tianjin are planned.A variation of the proposed routes leaves Beijing heading toward Pinggu District
Pinggu District
Pinggu District , formerly Pinggu County , lies at the extreme eastern end of Beijing municipality, and borders Tianjin municipality near Ji County. It has an area of 950 square kilometers and a population of 396,701...
, and links with the Jinji Expressway
Jinji Expressway
Opened in late September 2003, just days before October 1 - China's National Day holiday - the Jinji Expressway runs entirely within Tianjin, and links Tianjin city in the south with Ji County in the north. Hence the name Tianjin - Ji County - Jinji Expressway. The expressway runs for 104...
.
Speed Limit
Uniform maximum speed limit of 110 km/h (sparsely signposted at times) outside of Beijing; Beijing section now only 90 km/h. However, the BeijingBeijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
section from Fenzhongsi
Fenzhongsi
Fenzhongsi is a transportational node in Beijing.It is the starting point of the Jingjintang Expressway to Langfang, Tianjin and Tanggu.Fenzhongsi lies on the southeastern segment of the 3rd Ring Road....
through Shibalidian
Shibalidian
thumb|300px|The Shibalidian transportational node.Shibalidian is the name of a transportational node in Beijing, China. Flanked by several overpasses, it is where the southeastern 4th Ring Road links with the Jingjintang Expressway...
has a mixed speed limit of 70 km/h or 80 km/h (only when leaving Beijing).
Lanes
4 lanes (2 up, 2 down), with emergency belt. Exception: Beginnings in BeijingBeijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
(Fenzhongsi
Fenzhongsi
Fenzhongsi is a transportational node in Beijing.It is the starting point of the Jingjintang Expressway to Langfang, Tianjin and Tanggu.Fenzhongsi lies on the southeastern segment of the 3rd Ring Road....
- Shibalidian
Shibalidian
thumb|300px|The Shibalidian transportational node.Shibalidian is the name of a transportational node in Beijing, China. Flanked by several overpasses, it is where the southeastern 4th Ring Road links with the Jingjintang Expressway...
) has 6 lanes (3 up, 3 down).
Surface Conditions
Drivable; a few portions need more maintenance. Portion from central Tianjin to Tanggu seems to be worn down at occasional times.Major Exits
FenzhongsiFenzhongsi
Fenzhongsi is a transportational node in Beijing.It is the starting point of the Jingjintang Expressway to Langfang, Tianjin and Tanggu.Fenzhongsi lies on the southeastern segment of the 3rd Ring Road....
, Dayangfang, Majuqiao, Caiyu, Langfang
Langfang
Langfang , Hebei province, China, is a prefecture-level city located approximately midway between Beijing and Tianjin with a total population of 3.85 million and an urban area population of 763,700. Its total area is around 6,429 km²...
, Yangcun, Yixingbu, Central Tianjin
Tianjin
' is a metropolis in northern China and one of the five national central cities of the People's Republic of China. It is governed as a direct-controlled municipality, one of four such designations, and is, thus, under direct administration of the central government...
, Tianjin
Tianjin
' is a metropolis in northern China and one of the five national central cities of the People's Republic of China. It is governed as a direct-controlled municipality, one of four such designations, and is, thus, under direct administration of the central government...
Airport, Tanggu
Tanggu
Tanggu DistrictChinese: s , p Tánggū Qū was a district in the Tianjin municipality on the coast of north China, now part of the newly formed district of Binhai. It is on the Hai River where it enters the Bohai Sea, and is a port for Tianjin, which is about 30 miles upriver...
Connections
Ring Roads of BeijingRing Roads of Beijing
Beijing is one of the very few cities to possess multiple ring roads .-1st Ring Road:The 1st Ring Road no longer exists under that name. In the 1920s, around half a dozen routes were established in Beijing for the first tram lines of the city...
: Connects with the SW 3rd Ring Road at Fenzhongsi
Fenzhongsi
Fenzhongsi is a transportational node in Beijing.It is the starting point of the Jingjintang Expressway to Langfang, Tianjin and Tanggu.Fenzhongsi lies on the southeastern segment of the 3rd Ring Road....
, the SW 4th Ring Road at Shibalidian
Shibalidian
thumb|300px|The Shibalidian transportational node.Shibalidian is the name of a transportational node in Beijing, China. Flanked by several overpasses, it is where the southeastern 4th Ring Road links with the Jingjintang Expressway...
, the SW 5th Ring Road at Dayangfang and the SW 6th Ring Road at Majuqiao.
Jinghu Expressway
Jinghu Expressway
The Beijing–Shanghai Expressway or Jinghu Expressway is a major road system of China, linking the capital Beijing in the north to Shanghai on the central coast. It extends over 1000 kilometres in length, and was opened in the early 2000s...
: Connects with the Jinghu Expressway at Yixingbu.
Jinji Expressway
Jinji Expressway
Opened in late September 2003, just days before October 1 - China's National Day holiday - the Jinji Expressway runs entirely within Tianjin, and links Tianjin city in the south with Ji County in the north. Hence the name Tianjin - Ji County - Jinji Expressway. The expressway runs for 104...
: Connects with the newly-opened Jinji Expressway at Central Tianjin
Tianjin
' is a metropolis in northern China and one of the five national central cities of the People's Republic of China. It is governed as a direct-controlled municipality, one of four such designations, and is, thus, under direct administration of the central government...
exit (Jinzhong Road).
Tianjin Outer Ring Road
Outer Ring Road (Tianjin)
The Outer Ring Road in Tianjin, China is a city express road, 71.322 kilometres in length, which encircles Tianjin municipality.Although its distance markers indicate its status as an expressway-grade road, it is not, strictly speaking, an expressway, as it has at-grade crossings, a low speed limit...
: Connects at Yixingbu.
From the "Golden Expressway" to the "Road of Death"
Upon its completion, the PRC authorities and state media spared the least of efforts in trumpeting the creation of the Jingjintang Expressway, promoting it to the bitter end, and creating an illusion that the expressway was it in the PRC's expressway world. As a result of this widespread promotion, the expressway was known as the "golden expressway".In November 2004, however, things looked very different. Incessant traffic jams, breakdowns, and chaos on the expressway earned it a more popular nickname -- the "road of death".
The very problem lies within the expressway itself -- massive traffic. The expressway was designed for a traffic audience of 50,000 vehicles a day -- and apparently, not a vehicle more, as the current average of 59,000 vehicles a day is stretching the expressway to its limits. Meanwhile, during periods of high use, 130,000 vehicles are reported to be using the expressway -- per day.
Compounding the problem is a very narrow (2.4 m in width) hard shoulder, and the lack of emergency bays. Compound that with fog in the southeastern Beijing section, and no lights at night outside of the 4th Ring Road (Beijing)
4th Ring Road (Beijing)
The 4th Ring Road is an expressway-like ring road in Beijing, China which runs around the city approximately 8 kilometres from the centre of the city.Although it is the city's third ring road, it is named the 4th Ring Road.- Route :...
, and one understands why the label "road of death" sticks so well to the expressway today.
Problems with the Expressway
ChinaChina
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
was a different country back in 1993, when the expressway first opened. For a start, there were fewer drivers, and traffic -- especially expressway traffic -- was less of a problem. Therefore, when the expressway opened in September 1993, it could cope rather well with just two lanes in one direction -- for over a hundred kilometres.
Things changed in the late 1990s. Private citizens could apply for driver's licences with greater ease, and traffic as a whole increased on PRC roads. The situation on the expressway in 2004, therefore, is different from that of 1993.
A 2004 traffic jam -- or traffic disturbance -- that upset just one lane (not to mention more than one lane), would upset the entire expressway. Traffic would begin to pile up for kilometres and hours on end. The relative lack of exits (only ten for the entire stretch) could further compound the problem.
As it forms a vital corridor for traffic from Tianjin
Tianjin
' is a metropolis in northern China and one of the five national central cities of the People's Republic of China. It is governed as a direct-controlled municipality, one of four such designations, and is, thus, under direct administration of the central government...
and Tanggu
Tanggu
Tanggu DistrictChinese: s , p Tánggū Qū was a district in the Tianjin municipality on the coast of north China, now part of the newly formed district of Binhai. It is on the Hai River where it enters the Bohai Sea, and is a port for Tianjin, which is about 30 miles upriver...
, the expressway is often full of lorries. Two lorries overtaking each other would shrink average speed limits for the car following behind considerably -- from the legal 110 km/h down to approximately 80 km/h or sometimes even 60 km/h.
The expressway today, therefore, is not just a corridor for traffic, but also potentially one for traffic problems.
List of Exits
Symbols: ↗ = exit (→ = only on way out of Beijing), ✕ = closed exit, ⇆ = main interchange; ¥ = central toll gate; S = service areaBeijing Section
Listed are exits heading southeast as of Beijing (3rd Ring Road)- ⇆ (Interchange with 3rd Ring Road) FenzhongsiFenzhongsiFenzhongsi is a transportational node in Beijing.It is the starting point of the Jingjintang Expressway to Langfang, Tianjin and Tanggu.Fenzhongsi lies on the southeastern segment of the 3rd Ring Road....
- ⇆ (Interchange with 4th Ring Road) Nansihuan (S. 4th Ring Road)
- ✕ 2: Dayangfang, Jiugong -- exit disused as of 2002 and in effect replaced by 5th Ring Road
- ⇆ (Interchange with 5th Ring Road) 5th Ring Road
- ¥ Dayangfang
- S Majuqiao
- ⇆ 3: Majuqiao, Liuhuanlu
- ⇆ 4: (Interchange with China National Highway 104China National Highway 104China National Highway 104 runs from Beijing to Fuzhou via Jinan, Xuzhou, Nanjing, Hangzhou and Taizhou.It runs to approximately 2,390 km, and, on a map, runs southeast towards Nanjing and Hangzhou before turning south-southwest at Taizhou....
) G104China National Highway 104China National Highway 104 runs from Beijing to Fuzhou via Jinan, Xuzhou, Nanjing, Hangzhou and Taizhou.It runs to approximately 2,390 km, and, on a map, runs southeast towards Nanjing and Hangzhou before turning south-southwest at Taizhou....
, Caiyu
Hebei Section
Listed are exits heading southeast as of the jurisdictional boundary with Beijing- ↗ 5: LangfangLangfangLangfang , Hebei province, China, is a prefecture-level city located approximately midway between Beijing and Tianjin with a total population of 3.85 million and an urban area population of 763,700. Its total area is around 6,429 km²...
Tianjin Section
Listed are exits heading southeast as of the jurisdictional boundary with Hebei/Tianjin (Wuqing District)- ⇆ 7: (Interchange with China National Highway 103China National Highway 103China National Highway 103 is the main traffic corridor between Beijing and Tianjin. It goes from Beijing to Tongzhou, Tianjin and then to the coastal area of Tanggu on the outskirts of Tianjin, and runs to approximately 150 km....
) Hexiwu, Yangcun (G103China National Highway 103China National Highway 103 is the main traffic corridor between Beijing and Tianjin. It goes from Beijing to Tongzhou, Tianjin and then to the coastal area of Tanggu on the outskirts of Tianjin, and runs to approximately 150 km....
) - S Xuguantun
- ⇆ 8: (Interchange with Tianjin Outer Ring RoadOuter Ring Road (Tianjin)The Outer Ring Road in Tianjin, China is a city express road, 71.322 kilometres in length, which encircles Tianjin municipality.Although its distance markers indicate its status as an expressway-grade road, it is not, strictly speaking, an expressway, as it has at-grade crossings, a low speed limit...
) Yixingbu - ⇆ 9: (Interchange with Jinji ExpresswayJinji ExpresswayOpened in late September 2003, just days before October 1 - China's National Day holiday - the Jinji Expressway runs entirely within Tianjin, and links Tianjin city in the south with Ji County in the north. Hence the name Tianjin - Ji County - Jinji Expressway. The expressway runs for 104...
) Lutai, TianjinTianjin' is a metropolis in northern China and one of the five national central cities of the People's Republic of China. It is governed as a direct-controlled municipality, one of four such designations, and is, thus, under direct administration of the central government...
City - ↗ TianjinTianjin' is a metropolis in northern China and one of the five national central cities of the People's Republic of China. It is governed as a direct-controlled municipality, one of four such designations, and is, thus, under direct administration of the central government...
Airport - S Dongli
- ⇆ (Interchange with Tangjin ExpresswayTangjin ExpresswayThe Tangjin Expressway is an expressway in China which links Tangshan in Hebei province to Tianjin.It links Tangshan to Tianjin.The Tangjin Expressway gets its name by the combination of two one-character Chinese abbreviations of both Tangshan and Tianjin .-Route:The Tangjin Expressway passes...
) - ¥ Tanggu
- ↗ TangguTangguTanggu DistrictChinese: s , p Tánggū Qū was a district in the Tianjin municipality on the coast of north China, now part of the newly formed district of Binhai. It is on the Hai River where it enters the Bohai Sea, and is a port for Tianjin, which is about 30 miles upriver...