Shanghai’s Yan’an East Road Tunnel has been repaired, and the Central Ring Road is now open
Before the evening rush hour on December 25, 2015, all surface roads in Pudong Central were reopened. Starting at 6:00 PM on December 27, the remaining seven ramps on the Pudong section of the Central Ring Road will also open, completing the entire Pudong Central Ring Road by Sunday.
The Pudong Traffic Police advise drivers to carefully follow the road signs and lane markings along Pudong Central Road to prevent accidents such as sudden braking or getting lost at intersections. If a wrong lane is taken, reversing is strictly prohibited.
Pudong Central Road Fully Opens This Sunday
Shanghai Pudong Traffic Police confirmed that all surface roads in Pudong Central will be open ahead of the evening rush on December 25. Then, from 6:00 PM on December 27, the final seven ramps on the Pudong segment of the Central Ring Road will be accessible, completing the full opening by Sunday. The reopening also includes Jinxiu East Road, previously a dead-end, which is expected to ease traffic congestion on Yanggao High School Road during peak hours.
The eastern section of the Central Ring Road in Pudong stretches approximately 9.44 kilometers, connecting the Jungong Road Cross River Tunnel in the north to Gaoke Middle Road in the south, linking with the existing Central Elevated Road at Shenjiang Road and Gaoke Middle Road intersection. Designed as an elevated urban expressway, it features a fully enclosed, fully interchanged layout with two-way eight lanes, supporting speeds up to 80 km/h. Key overpasses include Jinqiao Overpass and Longdong Avenue Overpass, with the latter under long-term planning. There are five pairs of parallel ramps: Zhangyang Road Ramp, two pairs at Jinxiu East Road Ramp, Shenjiang Road Ramp, and Gaoke Middle Road Ramp. The surface roads run parallel with eight fast lanes and two slow lanes per direction (six fast and two slow lanes in wedge-shaped green spaces), designed for speeds of 50 km/h.
Before the evening rush on Friday, December 25, the newly built and expanded surface roads will open. Due to the closure of the eastern section of the Pudong Central Ring Road, Jinqiao Road (from Jintai Road to Xinjinqiao Road) will also reopen, helping to reduce congestion on surrounding roads like Zaozhuang Road and Taierzhuang Road.
Additionally, the dead-end Jinxiu East Road will be fully connected. This road is divided into two sections: the west section runs from Luoshan Road to Jinqiao Road, and the east section extends from Jinhu Road to Shenjiang Road. Connecting these sections will significantly ease traffic pressure on Yanggao High School Road during peak hours. The newly constructed Yunshun Road, running approximately 3 kilometers alongside the Central Elevated Road from Jinqiao intersection of Jinxiu East Road to Shenjiang intersection of Longdong Avenue, will also open with six lanes. Yunshun Road’s opening is expected to divert traffic from Jinqiao Road and Longdong Avenue.
Starting at 6:00 PM on December 27, several ramps supporting the main elevated line of the Central Ring Road will open: Zhangyang Road off-ramp (outer ring from Pudong to Puxi), two pairs of ramps at Jinxiu East Road (inner and outer circles), Shenjiang Road off-ramp (outer ring), and Shenjiang Road on-ramp (inner circle). This will enhance access to Jinqiao and Zhangjiang Free Trade Zone, improving overall regional traffic flow. Following these openings, the Pudong East section of the Central Ring Road (from Jungong Road Cross River Tunnel to Gaoke Middle Road) will face the year-end and New Year traffic test. Pudong Traffic Police have issued targeted safety advice for drivers.
Drivers are reminded to follow all road signs and markings carefully to avoid sudden braking or confusion at forks. Reversing after entering the wrong lane is strictly forbidden. Due to the compact design of the Jinxiu East Road ramps, traffic flows intertwine closely; drivers should adhere to speed limits and proceed in an orderly manner. With the eastern section of the Central Ring Road open, Wuzhou Avenue will no longer be the only route to Chongming before holidays. Drivers can use the new route via Jungong Road Tunnel, Zhonghuan Road Shenjiang Interchange, Huaxia Elevated Road, Chuannan Fengxia Ramp, then head east on surface roads to the G1501 Changjiang Bridge Tunnel and on to Chongming.
Yan’an East Road Tunnel Repairs Completed Ahead of Schedule
The Shanghai Municipal Transportation Commission’s Road Bureau announced that, after just one week of construction, the northern section of Yan’an East Road Tunnel reopened for two-way traffic from Pudong to Puxi at 1:00 PM on December 25, three months ahead of schedule.
The tunnel had been closed for major renovations since midnight on March 14, 2015. During the 280-day project, builders utilized BIM technology for “4D progress tracking,” scheduling tasks precisely by time and work area. Construction processes were scientifically coordinated, with crews working around the clock in shifts. This approach allowed the project to finish early without compromising quality or safety.
While the tunnel was under construction, traffic was organized to allow passage only from Puxi to Pudong. Analysis of traffic flow in nearby tunnels, bridges, and roads showed that the area between the new road tunnel and Fuxing East Road Tunnel experienced some impact on cross-river traffic. Peak-hour crossing times increased by an average of 15–20 minutes, better than the expected 25–30 minutes, and overall traffic remained stable. Monitoring indicated that 10% of vehicles originally using the Yan’an East Road Tunnel switched to public transportation during construction. Approximately 70% of traffic diverted to the “Three Tunnels and One Bridge”: 37% used Renmin Road Tunnel, 14% Xinjian Road Tunnel, 14% Fuxing Road Tunnel, and 5% Nanpu Bridge. The rest crossed via other routes. No prolonged or widespread congestion occurred in central Shanghai, thanks in part to public understanding and cooperation.
During construction, 13 bus routes that normally use the Yan’an East Road Tunnel were adjusted: 10 routes were rerouted, 2 were reduced, and 1 was suspended. With the renovation complete, bus services will resume in the tunnel starting early morning December 26. Passengers are advised to check station signs for the latest route information.
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