The expressway network plan, which takes into account regional,urban and rural development and population distribution, shows the government will spend 390 billion yuan in eastern China, 520 billion yuan in central areas, and 1.09 trillion yuan in west China.

The plan shows the total length of the network will reach 42,000 kilometers by the end of 2007, and 50,000 to 55,000 kilometers by 2010.

The country's road network strategy aims at integrating expressways and local roads to meet transport needs and support economic growth.

The expressway network will connect all provincial capitals and cities of at least 500,000 people by the end of 2010, and link major economic hubs such as the Pearl River Delta, the Yangtze River Delta and the Bohai Sea Rim areas.

Economic growth has resulted in increasing traffic volumes, with the number of motor vehicles rising by 15 to 30 percent annually, with a 30-fold increase in private vehicle ownership from 1985 to 2004.

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