Traffic hub to open in Pudong by mid-year

A key traffic hub in Pudong's Sanlin area will open by the middle of this year, providing more convenient access to downtown Shanghai for suburban residents, the city's construction and transport commission said yesterday.

The hub will feature six bus routes with 500 parking spaces for vehicles. The hub is close to Luheng Road Station on Metro Line 8.

Shi Zhenhai, deputy general manager with the builder, Shanghai Transportation Investment Group, said residents nearby will be encouraged to drive to the hub and then take subways downtown.

Stores and a wet market will also be included in the hub, Shi added.

Sanlin is a growing community with many large apartment complexes having opened in recent years. About 40 percent of an expected 100,000 people already live in the area.

The city is working on dozens of supporting projects for large suburban communities to address housing and transportation issues.