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An overhead view of a section of the second phase of the Suzhou-Taizhou Expressway. [Photo/jiaxingren.com]

The second phase of the Suzhou-Taizhou Expressway opened to traffic on July 4, sparking real excitement across Tongxiang, a county-level city in Jiaxing, East China's Zhejiang province.

The 44-kilometer highway — costing 18 billion yuan ($2.51 billion) and fully funded by the city — connects southern Huzhou to the Qianjiang Tunnel and the Hangzhou Second Ring Expressway, forming a new transportation corridor through northern Zhejiang.

Nearly 90 percent of the expressway runs through Tongxiang, linking key areas such as Wuzhen, Chongfu, and Zhouquan. Six interchanges enable 10-minute access from most of the city's towns and districts.

Driven by local demand and development aspirations, Tongxiang initiated the project over a decade ago, overcoming delays in planning and investment. The expressway now connects to five major highways, strengthening links to cities like Hangzhou and Suzhou. Daily traffic is projected to reach 32,000 vehicles by 2025.

The construction — completed within 940 days — sets a number of records, with advanced technology and coordination among the 18 contractors. Over 266.67 hectares of land were acquired across three cities, with over 92 percent of land acquisition agreements completed in just 100 days.

Driven by strong performance in sectors such as the digital economy and advanced materials, Tongxiang recorded a GDP of 134.7 billion yuan in 2024. The economic strength enabled the city to independently finance the expressway.