Going Nowhere: Traffic Jam Enters Ninth Day..

redidentity · August 23, 2010, 6:53pm

A 100km long traffic jam in China has entered its ninth day and drivers are being warned the bottleneck could continue for a month.

Hundreds of trucks heading for Beijing on the Beijing-Tibet Expressway have been at a standstill because of roadworks in the capital.

Small traffic accidents or broken-down cars are aggravating the congestion which started on August 14.

But those affected have been taking the disruption in their stride.

Drivers have been playing chess or cards, with some joking “concerts should be held at each congested area every weekend, to alleviate drivers’ homesickness”.

And local residents have been benefiting from the queue too by setting up temporary stalls selling food and drink to the car owners.

There has been anger that some vendors have been making a small fortune by overcharging drivers for items including noodles and hot water.

Around 400 police officers are at the scene 24 hours a day to make sure the situation stays calm.

It is hoped the roadworks will be completed by the end of September but congestion and road safety are a huge concern for Chinese motorists.

Traffic jams have been frequent since May due to the rapid increase of trucks to a daily peak of about 17,000.

Niu Fengrui, director of the Institute for Urban and Environmental Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences told the Global Times poor road planning was part of the problem: "If there’s no traffic jam in the city, that would be news.

“Our government should pick up the pace of urban infrastructure construction and spend some of its budget.”

X2 · August 23, 2010, 6:55pm

Re: Going Nowhere: Traffic Jam Enters Ninth Day..

I will never ever complain about traffic again.

cadet018 · August 23, 2010, 6:56pm

Re: Going Nowhere: Traffic Jam Enters Ninth Day..

**9 days and counting
**

redidentity · August 23, 2010, 6:58pm

Re: Going Nowhere: Traffic Jam Enters Ninth Day..

it might last for a month :s

sweetu · August 23, 2010, 6:58pm

Re: Going Nowhere: Traffic Jam Enters Ninth Day..

Muzna · August 23, 2010, 6:59pm

Re: Going Nowhere: Traffic Jam Enters Ninth Day..

yikes

waleedhbk · August 23, 2010, 11:50pm

Re: Going Nowhere: Traffic Jam Enters Ninth Day..

So much cars and population is the reason i think

maroush · August 23, 2010, 11:52pm

Re: Going Nowhere: Traffic Jam Enters Ninth Day..

NaMaan · August 23, 2010, 11:59pm

Re: Going Nowhere: Traffic Jam Enters Ninth Day..

wow . . . btw what happen to all the bicycles there ?

arafat · August 24, 2010, 8:43am

Re: Going Nowhere: Traffic Jam Enters Ninth Day..

^ nammi bhai they traded them all for cars!

wow thats crazy man... imagine popping out to buy some milk and returning 9 days later, the milk would have gone off by then

funnymonkey · August 24, 2010, 8:55am

Re: Going Nowhere: Traffic Jam Enters Ninth Day..

aitnay ziadah din ka q and jam.
main tu samaj raha tha keh yeh koi toast per jam laga ker bhool ghia lekun yeh tu sahi traffic ka jam hai.
aisay lagta hai yeh tu jam hi rahay gha. meray khiyal main sab say bura jaam traffic jam hee hai