ADB approves loan to ease traffic pressures in Xi'an

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, November 27, 2003

ADB approves loan to ease traffic pressures in Xi'an

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The Asian Development Bank (ADB) Thursday approved a 270 million-US dollar loan for an integrated urban transport project to help relieve transport infrastructure bottlenecks in the Chinese ancient city of Xi'an.

The project will construct a 71-km ring road, including interchanges and bridges, and upgrade or build 16 km of connector roads to integrate the ring road with the overall urban road network, the Manila-based ADB said in a statement.

It will also reduce traffic congestion and promote road safety by improving urban traffic management, installing an area traffic control system for traffic signals, improving bus services and introducing priority bus lanes, undertaking a road safety audit, and developing a road safety strategy, the ADB said.

To counter the risk of increased vehicle emissions from rapidly growing traffic, the project will promote the use of compressed natural gas by building filling stations, initiating a mobile emission inspection scheme, and drawing up an action plan for air quality management and vehicle emission control.

Air pollution and the associated acid rain are causing deterioration of many historical treasures in Xi'an, the capital of Shaanxi Province and home of the world famous Terra-cotta Warriors.

The project will also fund equipment for road maintenance, transport planning modeling, axle weighing systems, and surveillance and communications.

"This is ADB's first integrated urban transport project in the PRC (People's Republic of China) that is designed to improve public transport and traffic safety as well as improving the infrastructure," says Makoto Ojiro, an ADB Principal Project Economist.

"It should provide a model for other cities in improving their urban transport to provide an efficient, faster, safer, and more environmentally-oriented transport system. This will help the area attract more investment, boost income levels, and create jobs, both during construction and as a result of greater economic activity after the project is completed."

Xi'an, like many other municipalities in China, has been facing dual pressures of rapid urbanization and increased traffic congestion.

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