Published : 2024-08-20

On August 20, 1990, the entire Shenyang-Dalian Expressway was opened to traffic.

The Shenyang-Dalian Expressway, spanning a total length of 375 kilometres, was the earliest eight-lane expressway built in Mainland China. It was also the longest expressway at the time and was hailed as the "First Road of the Divine Land" (神州第一路).

During the early stage of the Reform and Opening-up, Liaoning Province prospered economically at a rapid pace. However, the average driving speed on the highway between Shenyang and Dalian did not exceed 30 kilometres per hour, which hindered further development.

Construction of the Shenyang-Dalian Expressway started on June 27, 1984, and the entire route was opened to traffic more than six years later.

Initially, it was a four-lane highway in both directions with a designed driving speed of 120 kilometres per hour. In 2002, the Shenyang-Dalian Expressway was widened and became the country's first eight-lane expressway.

The Shenyang-Dalian Expressway, known as the national key project of the Seventh Five-Year Plan, was mainly financed by local funds. It crosses the Liaodong Peninsula, connecting the five major industrial cities of Shenyang, Liaoyang, Anshan, Yingkou, and Dalian.

It also serves as an essential economic artery in Liaoning Province and the primary gateway to the sea in China's northeast region.

According to statistics, the daily traffic volume of the Shenyang-Dalian Expressway was 3,300 vehicles at the beginning of its operation, which has now reached 247,000 vehicles.

The Shenyang-Dalian Expressway is a milestone in the history of China's highway construction. It has forged a golden avenue for revitalising the economy and opening up in the Liaodong Peninsula and the entire northeast region.