The second and third phases of Beijing's fifth ring road project were opened to traffic on Saturday, bringing the city's total freeway length to 444 km.

So far this year, 128 km of freeways have been completed in theChinese capital city.

The second phase of the fifth ring road, about 22.85 km in the northwest, links the Beijing-Taiyuan highway with the Badaling expressway. The 23.98-km third phase connects the capital international airport with the Beijing-Tianjin-Tanggu freeway.

Local resources reveal that of the 100-km fifth ring road, 60 km have been opened to traffic this year, and of the 200-km sixth ring road, 100 km are in use.

Beijing's highway network will help alleviate traffic jams, andencourage ecological protection and building a better traffic environment for the 2008 Olympic Games, according to traffic experts.

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