Since YICT commenced operations in 1994, the infrastructure around the port has also been upgraded at a rapid pace, increasing from just one road and one tunnel to four roads, four tunnels and one interchange. In statistical terms, daily road traffic capacity has gone from 25,000 to 175,000 passenger car units (PCU). To cope with the first berth of YICT's Expansion Project in 2006, the rapid increased road capacity will ensure a smooth flow of traffic in the area.

Comparison table shows infrastructure upgrades have kept pace with throughput growth.

Roads under construction in 2006 will significantly increase traffic capacity.

The new roads are designed to meet the requirement of the port's future development. For example, the Yanpai Highway has six lanes in both directions with a capacity of 100,000 PCU and was opened to traffic in May 2006. The highway allows Yantian's port traffic capacity to increase from 175,000 to 275,000 PCU.

Three measures ensuring traffic flow during construction of the Second Access to Yantian

It is expected that the Second Access to Yantian will be completed by the end of 2007. The new access will play an important role in YICT's future development. To minimise any impact on port traffic during construction, YICT has worked with the relevant parties to prepare a traffic plan as below:

• Build a special road bypassing the northern section of the Yantian Port Free Trade Zone and connecting to Yanpai Highway. This will allow traffic to be diverted to the east and north, via the special road and then onto the Yanpai Highway.
• Build a special road to connect Yantian West Port, allowing port traffic to bypass the construction site, then to divert via Shenyan Road.
• Devise a port traffic emergency plan, diverting port traffic via alternative access routes in case of emergency.

New roads help upgrade traffic conditions.

In addition to making efforts to improve the current port traffic network, the local Traffic Administration Department will focus on the construction of new roads, making it possible to divert port traffic via these accesses.

Table showing new roads currently under construction around the port.

Looking ahead to when the Expansion Project is completed, the number of container berths at YICT will increase to 15 or, in other words, the port's current capacity will increase more than double. The port's development is closely tied-in with the development of any road and land transport infrastructure. The rapid growth in throughput and the increased construction of the existing road network work hand-in-hand with development plans for the traffic network. Thus, it too will expand at the same pace as the port's own development.

Both the Shenzhen Municipal Government and YICT have invested over five billion RMB in the construction of a road network including those roads already constructed and still under construction, around the port during the period from 1987 to 2005. The accumulated length of roads around the port is over 80 km. The government will further inject close to 4 billion RMB in road construction during 2006 -2007, with the length of new roads totaling an additional 30 km.

YICT has made use of the different traffic patterns to achieve complementary advantages and the scientific allocation of capacity for both internal traffic and external highways. This sophisticated transport network helps integrate the port with highways to satisfy ever-increasing transport demands between the port and the economic hinterland of the Pearl River Delta. It also helps enhance transport efficiency in supporting YICT to achieve its goal of becoming a world-class port.

Notes:
PCU (passenger car unit) is a unit to measure road capacity. It takes a 4-5 seat car as a standard car for the conversion of the various kinds of vehicles.

One container truck is equivalent to about three PCU.