Construction of an oil and gas pipeline between Yunnan and coastal Myanmar is scheduled to begin in the first half of next year, according to Chinese media reports citing Mi Gongsheng, director of the Yunnan Provincial Reform and Development Commission.

The US$2.5 billion pipeline project is one of several major infrastructure and energy projects planned for Yunnan in 2009. The other projects reportedly focus on large-scale industry, railway expansion, cleaning up Dianchi Lake, power and coal projects, construction, power grid improvements and rural road construction. Mi added that Yunnan will spend 72 billion yuan (US$10.5 billion) on energy projects next year.

China recently announced a massive national initiative to upgrade the country's energy, aviation, rail and internet infrastructure as part of its reaction to the current global financial crisis. This will be China's largest pipeline project since completion of a pipeline from northwestern China's Xinjiang to its energy-hungry east coast in 2004.

China National Petroleum Corp, the country's top oil producer, will control a 50.9-percent stake and will manage the project, with the remainder held by Myanmar Oil & Gas Enterprise.

China – whose energy projects in Sudan have already been a source of international criticism – is likely to get more of the same for its cooperation with Myanmar's government, which is run by a repressive military junta that is most notable for keeping the country's last democratically elected leader – Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi under arrest for 13 of the last 20 years.

Tags: Aung San Suu Kyi, construction, energy, global financial crisis, infrastructure, Myanmar, oil, pipeline, Sudan

The committee in charge of Kunming's no-car days has reduced the scope of no-car days to only include the area within the city's first ring road, citing current construction on the Second Ring Road's western portion as well as roadwork starting today on the road's eastern and southern segments.

For the last three months, the area between the first and second ring roads was off limits to odd- or even-numbered cars on alternating months. Beginning this Saturday and continuing on the last Saturday of each following month, private automobiles will be banned from the area within the First Ring Road from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.

The First Ring Road includes Huancheng Dong Lu, Huancheng Nan Lu, Xichang Lu and Yieryi Dajie. Buses and taxis will still be allowed to operate within the no-car area.

Over the next 12 months, Kunming will invest six billion yuan (US$878 million) into improving traffic flow on the Second Ring Road. Roadwork on the second ring road is scheduled for completion by September 2009.

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Tags: construction, environment, First Ring Road, no-car days, Second Ring Road, traffic

Almost four months after the sudden shutdown of Xiao Ximen – one of Kunming's busiest intersections – the upper level of the new, so-called 'turtle back' flyover is preparing to open to traffic as soon as July 1, according to a Dushi Shibao report.

The report, which cited sources involved in the construction project, said that the upper level of the flyover at the intersection of Dongfeng Xi Lu and Renmin Lu is nearly complete, aside from throwing down 16 centimeters of asphalt and installing four bus stops. Barring excessive rains the upper level should open for traffic on July 1, the report said.

Construction of the flyover has had a major effect upon traffic flow in Kunming's Wuhua district, much of which has been rerouted through ill-prepared streets such as Wenlin Jie, Cuihu Nan Lu and Honghua Qiao. The reopening of Xiao Ximen to traffic is expected to alleviate traffic pressure on these side streets.

According to traffic police statistics, a total of more than 21,000 automobiles, 26,000 bicycles and other non-motorized vehicles and 43,000 pedestrians pass through the intersection at Xiao Ximen during the morning and afternoon rush hours.

Image: clzg.cn

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Construction of 'Turtle back' throws Kunming traffic into chaos

Tags: construction, traffic, Xiao Ximen