Universiade lanes to be in use Aug 4

Updated: 2011-08-02 09:43

(sz2011.org)

Motorists who use the lanes designated for Universiade vehicles would be fined 300 yuan ($45) starting Thursday, July 28th, a Shenzhen Municipal Government Information Office news conference was told July 31st.

Only vehicles with certificates issued by the Games organizing committee or with certificates for the opening and closing ceremonies and vehicles for Universiade emergencies, such as police vehicles, fire engines, ambulances and engineering vehicles, would be exempt from punishment, Xu Wei, spokesman of the Shenzhen traffic bureau, told the news conference.

The move is to ensure smooth traffic for the Universiade during rush hours. During the Games, vehicles are required to reach the sports venues from the athletes village within one hour, but the farthest venue is 60 km from the village.

Shenzhen has designated special lanes on 13 roads including Shuiguan and Qingping expressways, Binhe and Beihuan boulevards and Xinzhou Road for Universiade vehicles only. Other vehicles entering the roads between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. will be fined.

Police will keep a record of vehicles entering the lanes for the first time and only fine a second and subsequent offenses, Xu said.

During the opening and closing ceremonies, the restrictions will be extended to midnight.

Police will conduct a test Wednesday before the Universiade restrictions take effect.

Also starting Thursday, trucks running on Qingping Expressway and Longxiang Boulevard between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. will be diverted to nearby roads such as Shenhui Road.

Trucks will be allowed on Shuiguan Expressway during the Universiade except on the days of the opening and closing ceremonies.

About Shenzhen

Shenzhen is located at the southern tip of the Chinese mainland on the eastern bank of the mouth of the Pearl River and neighbors Hong Kong.

The brainchild of Deng Xiaoping, the country's first special economic zone was established here by the Chinese Government in 1980. It has been a touchstone for China's reform and opening-up policy since then.