Rural road boost in China

The local authorities in China’s Sichuan Province are planning a massive expansion and improvement programme targeted at rural roads. Over US$12.7 billion will be invested in rural road development during China’s 12th Five-Year Plan, which is for the 2011-2015 period. The development projects include upgrading 500 bridges and 6,000km of rural roads as well as 1,100 bus terminals, 2,452 bridges and building 93,000km of rural roads. By 2015, the province's rural roads should have a total length of 276,000km. The aim of the programme is to boost connectivity into rural areas and allow local trade to develop.