The western section of the Changchun metropolitan area ring expressway. [Photo provided to gojilin.gov.cn]

The western section of the Changchun metropolitan area ring expressway officially opened to traffic on July 30, completing the full ring around the metropolitan area and strengthening regional connectivity across central Jilin province.

The newly opened section, extending from Yitong through Gongzhuling to Nong'an, marks the completion of the expressway loop, providing a key addition to the region's transportation network and supporting integrated urban development and high-quality county-level economic growth.

As an important part of National Highway G9902, the western section spans 143.34 kilometers. Construction was completed in just two years and four months.

During the project, Jilin Provincial Expressway Group coordinated construction across five main work zones and two specialized sections.

The project involved more than 32 million cubic meters of earthwork and included the construction of three extra-large bridges, 54 large bridges, 59 medium bridges, 14 small bridges, 244 culverts, 59 overpasses, 71 underpasses, 12 interchanges, and 14 grade-separated interchanges. Communications, traffic monitoring, and maintenance facilities were also completed alongside the expressway.

Running through western Changchun, the new expressway provides efficient links with five major surrounding expressways. It connects Nong'an, Dehui, Jiutai, Shuangyang, Yitong, and Gongzhuling, serving a population of about 3.5 million.

The completed ring expressway is expected to improve travel efficiency, strengthen connections among cities and counties within the Changchun metropolitan area, and support coordinated regional development.