The world’s longest Metro network just keeps stretching, making Shanghai even easier to travel around and linking more parts of the city together. The Working Report of the Government, released on Tuesday, stated Shanghai will finish construction of the South Extension of Line 5 and Phase 2 and 3 of Line 13 this year.
The South Extension of Line 5, unlike other expansions, does not start from the current termination of its originating line (i.e. Minhang Development Zone). Instead, it begins as a branch line from Dongchuan Road and will be the first line to cross the Huangpu River by Minpu 2nd Bridge. It will also connect Fengxian District to the downtown area.
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The extension covers a distance of 19.5 kilometers (12.12 miles), with eight newly-added stations, including Jiangchuan Road, Xidu, Xiaotang, Fengpu Avenue, East Huancheng Road, Wangyuan Road, Jinhai Lake, Fengxian Xincheng and Pingzhuang Highway.
It is said that the next phase of the extension will end at Haiwan Tourist Zone, which is on the southern outskirts of Shanghai. This will no doubt make East China University of Science and Technology and Sunny Beach Bihai Jinsha more accessible.
The construction of the South Extension of Line 5 commenced in July 2014, and was almost complete by the end of November last year. It’s now in the decoration and debugging stages.
Phase 2 and 3 of Line 13 are also set to open in 2018. To be precise, the first half of Phase 2 (West Nanjing Road to Shibo Avenue) already opened to the public back in December 2015, when the construction of the second half (Shibo Avenue to Middle Huaxia Road) had commenced.
Phase 3 of Line 13 starts from Middle Huaxia Road and ends at Zhangjiang Road, and together Phase 2 and 3 add 12 new stations to the line, including interchanges to lines 6, 7, 8 and 16. The total length amounts to 21.5 kilometers (13.36 miles).
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For now, the construction of the remaining sections of Line 13 are still in the process of excavation. Nevertheless, Shentong Metro Group (the operator of Shanghai Metro) has confirmed that the excavation will conclude before the Spring Festival.
By the time the two lines are open to the public, the total length of the ever-growing Shanghai Metro network will reach 707 kilometers, making transportation around the city even more convenient.
