China’s Traffic Jam Ends, More On The Way
The traffic jam that snarled traffic outside Beijing for eleven days has mysteriously vanished. But, the Economist says, it won’t be the last.
Roadworks and booming demand for coal and other goods sent thousands of lorries heading for China’s capital. Beijing is set to spend 80 billion yuan ($11.8 billion) on transport infrastructure in 2010—but it may not be enough. In recent years rising vehicle ownership has outpaced the growth of China’s express highway system by a distance. China’s new motoring class may have to get used to spending many more hours behind the wheel than they might otherwise intend.
This chart tells the story:
