The second phase of the Hangzhou-Ningbo parallel expressway. [Photo/tidenews.com.cn]

The second phase of the Hangzhou-Ningbo parallel expressway opened on April 11. This 14.4-kilometer elevated section features a six-lane dual carriageway with a designed speed of 120 km per hour, connecting the first phase with the Hangzhou-Shaoxing-Ningbo Expressway and effectively completing the network.

Since its opening in 1996, the Hangzhou-Ningbo Expressway has been one of the busiest expressways in Zhejiang province, leading to calls for an alternative route to ease congestion.

The new route strengthens connectivity between Hangzhou, Shaoxing, and Ningbo, improving regional transportation and logistics. Ningbo now has a total of 680 km of expressways.

Businesses along the route, such as Zhenhai Refining & Chemical Co and industrial parks, will benefit from faster transport to Hangzhou and Shaoxing, cutting logistics time and costs. Residents of Cixi, Zhenhai, and western Yuyao also benefit from this more direct travel route.

Construction faced technical challenges due to the coastal terrain. Engineers used internet of things technology for road monitoring and developed industrialized tooling innovations for beam production, enabling a continuous manufacturing cycle. This smart beam factory has also received several patents and provincial honors as a model for infrastructure innovation.