Transport authorities in Shanghai have announced that from 16 May, the section of the Shanghai-Hangzhou Expressway between Xinzhuang and Xinqiao will be closed for the second phase of a renovation project. This will be the first time Shanghai has ever shut down part of the expressway for renovation.

The renovation of the 18km stretch is designed to increase capacity and will involve road widening, the removal of certain toll stations and the addition of an underground tunnel. First phase work started at the end of last year and the whole project will take 15 months and Rmb2.2bn to complete. The section is scheduled to open again in time for the Shanghai Expo which will start in May 2010.