China National Highway 110 traffic jam
The China National Highway 110 traffic jam is a massive traffic jam that began to form on August 14, 2010, mostly on China National Highway 110 (G110) and Beijing–Tibet expressway (G6), in Beijing, Hebei and Inner Mongolia.[1][2] The traffic jam has slowed down thousands of vehicles for more than 100 kilometres (60 mi) and has lasted for more than ten days.[2][3][4] Many drivers have only been able to move their cars 1 km (0.6 mi) per day, and some drivers have reported being stuck in the traffic jam for five days.[4] It is considered to be one of the "longest" traffic jams by some media.[5][6][7]
Cause
Traffic on the China National Highway 110 has grown 40 percent every year in the last several years, making the highway chronically congested.[4] Currently, the traffic volume is more than 60% of the designed traffic capability.[8]
The cause of the traffic jam was reported to be a spike in traffic by heavy trucks heading to Beijing, along with National Highway 110's maintenance work that began five days later.[2] The road construction which decreased about 50% of the traffic capability[1] has contributed heavily to the traffic jam and will likely not be over until mid-September.[4] Police have reported that minor breakdowns and accidents have compounded the problem.[9]
Another explanation is that the restriction on illegal coal production has increased the demand for illegally produced coal in the autonomous region of Inner Mongolia. The coal produced from Inner Mongolia is shipped to Beijing along this route because there are no coal checkpoints on the highways connecting this route, and this has created massive congestion along this route.[10][9]
Creation of mini-economy
Locals near the highway have sold various goods like water, instant noodles, and cigarettes at inflated prices to the stranded drivers.[2][9] A bottle of water normally costs 1 yuan, but on the highway water is sold for 10 yuan. Drivers have also complained the price of instant noodles has more than tripled.[11] Some vendors have created mobile stores on bicycles.[11]
Response
Authorities have tried to speed up traffic by allowing more trucks to enter Beijing, especially at night. They have also asked trucking companies to suspend operations or take alternate routes.[11]
References
- ^ a b "京藏高速多路段堵车 110国道施工致通行力降50%". Tianjin net. People's Daily Online. 2010-08-27. Retrieved 2010-08-30.
- ^ a b c d "China's nine-day traffic jam stretches 100km". AFP. AFP. 2010-8-23. Retrieved 2010-08-24.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "世界惊奇中国高速大堵车(The world is surprised by Chinese highway massive traffic jam)". Xinhua international. Xinhua. 2010-8-25. Retrieved 2010-08-30.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b c d Chang, Anita (2010-8-24). "China traffic jam stretching 100 kilometres could last for weeks". The Globe and Mail. The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2010-08-24.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Chinese drivers stuck in the longest traffic jam". Peter Foster. The Daily Telegraph. 2010-8-24. Retrieved 2010-08-30.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Gridlock is a way of life for Chinese". Jonathan Watts. The Guardian. 2010-8-24. Retrieved 2010-08-30.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "China's 10-day traffic jam "longest ever"". Ananth Krishnan. The Hindu. 2010-8-24. Retrieved 2010-08-30.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "限行致京藏高速堵车:110国道车流超设计流量6成". 新京报. Sohu.com. 2010-08-19. Retrieved 2010-08-30.
- ^ a b c Ford, Peter (2010-08-24). "China traffic jam enters Day 11. A tale of deceit and criminality?". Christian Science Monitor. Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 2010-08-24.
- ^ "大型运煤车辆增加系造成高速公路拥堵主因(Increase of large coal car is the main cause of the highway traffic congestion)". 经济参考报. Sina.com. 2010-08-27. Retrieved 2010-08-30.
- ^ a b c "China's massive traffic jam could last for weeks". CTV. CTV. 2010-8-24. Retrieved 2010-08-25.
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