After an abrupt announcement on February 27 that the major intersection of Dongfeng Xi Lu and Renmin Zhong Lu – also known as Xiao Ximen – will be closed for six months, the intersection was sealed off the next day and construction on what is being called China's first "turtle-back flyover" (see model above) has commenced.
The result of blocking off one of Kunming's main intersections from all four directions and rerouting bus, car, bicycle and foot traffic through several small side streets around Xiao Ximen has led to chaos and significant inconvenience, which is expected to last until September. Smaller roads such as Wenlin Jie, Cuihu Nan Lu and Honghuaqiao are now being used to accommodate heavy traffic, with gridlock and a cacophony of horns common on the more congested streets during peak times.
The 63.6 million yuan (US$8.9 million) project will essentially raise the intersection for motorized vehicles, while pedestrians, bicycles and all other non-motorized vehicles will cross the intersection via separate channels within the "turtle belly" beneath the intersection. According to local media reports, the goal is to improve traffic flow and increase safety by separating motorized vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians.
In the meantime, bus passengers used to taking routes 2, 5, 10, 22, 26, 52, 54/K2, 56, 61, 65, 66, 69, 81, 82, 84, 96, 98 or 100 are advised to learn the redirected bus routes that will be in effect until September - click here for Chinese-annotated maps of all redirected routes. Below is a translated summary of the new routes.
Bus Route: 2 (Kunming Train Station to Huangtupo)
Originally passed through: Renmin Zhong Lu, Dongfeng Xi Lu, Yieryi Dajie
New route includes: Renmin Zhong Lu, Huashan Xi Lu, Wenlin Jie, Dongfeng Xi Lu, Yieryi Dajie
Bus Route: 5 (Juhuacun to Liangjiahe Chechang)
Originally passed through: Dongfeng Xi Lu, Kunshi Lu, Xichang Lu, Huancheng Xi Lu, Renmin Xi Lu
New route includes: Dongfeng Xi Lu, U-turn at Xiao Ximen construction zone then mirrors bus route 82
Bus Route: 10 (Jindian/Golden Temple – Art Theatre)
Originally passed through: Yieryi Dajie, Dongfeng Xi Lu, Renmin Zhong Lu, Wuyi Lu
New route includes: Yieryi Dajie, Dongfeng Xi Lu, Kunshi Lu, Xichang Lu
Bus Route: 22 (North Train Station – Daguan Lou)
Originally passed through: Yieryi Dajie, Dongfeng Xi Lu, Renmin Zhong Lu, Wuyi Lu
New route includes: Yieryi Dajie, Dongfeng Xi Lu, Kunshi Lu, Xichang Lu
Bus Route: 26 (Huangtupo – Guanshang)
Originally passed through: Kunda Lu, Dongfeng Xi Lu, Beijing Lu
New route includes: Kunda Lu, Xichang Lu, Jinbi Lu, Beijing Lu
Bus Route: 52 (Daguan Lou – Civilian Airport)
Originally passed through: Daguan Lu, Xichang Lu, Renmin Xi Lu, Dongfeng Xi Lu, Baita Lu
New route includes: Daguan Lu, Xichang Lu, Jinbi Lu, Baita Lu
Bus Route: 54/K2 (Mianshan – Tanhua Temple)
Originally passed through: Renmin Xi Lu, Renmin Zhong Lu, Renmin Dong Lu
New route includes: Renmin Xi Lu, Xichang Lu, Kunshi Lu, Cuihu Nan Lu, Pucaotian (outbound), Honghuaqiao (returning), Renmin Xi Lu, Renmin Dong Lu
Bus Route: 56 (High-Tech Development Zone – Nanping Jie Carrefour)
Originally passed through: Renmin Xi Lu, Renmin Zhong Lu
New route includes: Renmin Xi Lu, Xichang Lu, Jinbi Lu, Guofang Lu, Wuyi Lu, Renmin Zhong Lu
Bus Route: 61 (Northern Bus Station - Baima)
Originally passed through: Renmin Zhong Lu, Renmin Xi Lu
New route includes: Renmin Zhong Lu, Huashan Xi Lu, Wenlin Jie, Dongfeng Xi Lu, Yieryi Dajie, Xichang Lu, Renmin Xi Lu
Bus Route: 65 (Bashi Jiayuan – Xiao Ximen)
Originally passed through: Yieryi Dajie, Dongfeng Xi Lu, Renmin Xi Lu
New route includes: Yieryi Dajie, Dongfeng Xi Lu, Kunshi Lu, Xichang Lu
Bus Route: 66 (Mianshan – Shidai Nianhua Xiaoqu)
Originally passed through: Renmin Xi Lu, Dongfeng Lu, Guofang Lu, Jinbi Lu, Xichang Lu
New route includes: Renmin Xi Lu, Xichang Lu
Bus Route: 69 (Liangjiahe Chechang – Expo Gardens)
Originally passed through: Dongfeng Xi Lu, Renmin Zhong Lu
New route includes: Dongfeng Xi Lu, Cuihu Nan Lu, Pucaotian (outbound), Honghuaqiao (returning), Renmin Xi Lu
Bus Route: 81 (Mingbo – Kunshi Lu)
Originally passed through: Renmin Xi Lu
New route includes: U-turn at Xiao Ximen and return to Mingbo
Bus Route: 82 (Majie – Nanping Jie West End)
Originally passed through: Renmin Xi Lu
New route includes: U-turn at Xiao Ximen
Bus Route: 84 (Northern Bus Station – Nanping Jie West End)
Originally passed through: Yieryi Dajie, Dongfeng Xi Lu
New route includes: Yieryi Dajie, Dongfeng Xi Lu, Kunshi Lu, Xichang Lu
Bus Route: 96 (Northern Bus Station – Yongchang Xiaoqu)
Originally passed through: Yieryi Dajie, Dongfeng Xi Lu, Renmin Zhong Lu, Wuyi Lu
New route includes: Yieryi Dajie, Dongfeng Xi Lu, Kunshi Lu, Xichang Lu
Bus Route: 98 (Juhuacun – Sujiatang)
Originally passed through: Guofang Lu, Dongfeng Xi Lu, Jianshe Lu
New route includes: Guofang Lu, Wuyi Lu, Huashan Xi Lu, Wenlin Jie, Jianshe Lu
Bus Route: 100 (Mingbo – Xiao Caiyuan Flyover)
Originally passed through: Renmin Xi Lu, Cuihu Nan Lu, Yuantong Jie
New route includes: Renmin Xi Lu, Xichang Lu, Kunshi Lu, Cuihu Nan Lu
Turtle-back Flyover Model Image: clzg.cn
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Comments
Maybe it's just me, but I can't understand how this is going to help the situation with motorized vehicular traffic at that intersection at all. Was pedestrian/non-motorized vehicle traffic really the most serious issue at that spot? It seems like a flyover in one direction (building one on the Remin Lu side would have been very simple) for cars to keep traffic moving constantly through the intersection might have been a better long term investment. Fining people who cross the street when they have a red light would probably be a more effective way to handle the pedestrians.
If anyone has tried to travel around this construction area during peak times (from 7:00 am to 10:00 am, 11:00 am to 2:00 pm, and 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm) or the one-way triangle involving 121 Street, one can't help wondering at the qualifications of the 'designers'. It seems that they may simply have a graphic arts education and skills in accepting 'gifts' (from the traffic police).
thanks for the post. i hope to read some more.
Best regards from Sebbi
interested post about traffic. i think is very useful
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