China's 60-Mile Traffic Jam May Go On for Weeks

Croatia's Mario Mandzukic scores a goal during the Euro 2012 soccer championship Group C match between Italy and Croatia in Poznan, Poland, Thursday, June 14, 2012. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni) / Antonio Calanni

A massive traffic jam in north China that stretches for dozens of miles and hit its 10-day mark on Tuesday stems from road construction in Beijing that won't be finished until the middle of next month, an official said.

Bumper-to-bumper gridlock spanning for 60 miles with vehicles moving little more than a half-mile a day at one point has improved since this weekend, said Zhang Minghai, director of Zhangjiakou city's Traffic Management Bureau general office.

Some drivers have been stuck in the jam for five days, China Central Television reported Tuesday. But Zhang said he wasn't sure when the situation along the Beijing-Zhangjiakou highway would return to normal.

The traffic jam started Aug. 14 on a stretch of the highway that is frequently congested, especially after large coalfields were discovered in Inner Mongolia, Zhang said. Traffic volume has increased 40 percent every year.

Drivers stranded in the gridlock in the Inner Mongolia region and Hebei province, headed toward Beijing, passed the time sleeping, walking around, or playing cards and chess. Local villagers were doing brisk business selling instant noodles, boxed lunches and snacks, weaving between the parked trucks on bicycles.

Though there were no reports of road rage violence, drivers complained about price-gouging by villagers who were their only source of food and water. A bottle of water that normally costs 1 yuan (15 cents) was selling for 10 yuan ($1.50), while the price of a 3 yuan- (45 cent-) cup of instant noodles had more than tripled, media reports said.

"A boxed lunch is 10 yuan ($1.50), and one box isn't enough for me," China National Radio cited a driver surnamed Lu as saying. "I'm spending up to 50 yuan (about $7.50) a day on food. It's more expensive than eating in a restaurant."

The highway construction in Beijing that is restricting inbound traffic flow and causing the jam "will not be finished until Sept. 17," Zhang said.

Authorities were trying to speed up traffic by allowing more trucks to enter Beijing, especially at night, Zhang said. They also asked trucking companies to suspend operations and advised drivers to take alternate routes.

China's roadways are increasingly overburdened as the number of private vehicles booms along with commercial truck traffic hauling materials like coal and food to cities. Traffic slowdowns because of construction and accidents are common, though a 10-day traffic jam is unusual even in China.

[Glidmokk]

This problem is occurring for one reason and one reason only: Bad planning. The article fails to condemn the planning system of the responsible governmental authorities. The article says "oh it's coal shipments, or oh it's an increase in the amount of traffic every year..." No! This is madly poor governmental planning and that's all it is. Things change in every country, and it is up to the trained government planners to deal with these things and avoid these problems. In this case there is no international border being crossed, no extenuating circumstance, a giant country with much surplus labor...BAD PLANNING is the reason, and NONE of the reasons mentioned in the article.

[run2jazz2]

Wow, I cannot imagine that the folks here in Maryland would stay ten days on 70 N! These fools get mad and cut you off on 20 minute drives to work.

[barbaram99]

We live in Seattle..We use the bus. In America there are too many cars on the roads. Now China has the problem.. 10 days in that mess. I pity them.

[mylilelar]

This is NOT a traffic jam in China,it is a long parking lot. Big difference!!

[mylilelar]

NOTHING is worse than a traffic jam on I-405 in Seattle!!

[Henri_Rochard]

This is worse than I-405 through the Seattle area !!!

[stuwerb]

They're outcompeting us, even on traffic jams. My recommendation: cede traffic jams to them and India. Let's announce we're getting out of that business right now.