Shanghai begins renovation work on Inner Ring Road

Credit: Ti Gong

Caption: Part of the Inner Ring Road, from Longhua Road W. to Nanpu Bridge will undergo a major facelift until the end of October.

Shanghai began renovating a section of its Inner Ring Road elevated expressway on Friday.

Drivers and residents are advised to prepare for night closures and potential detours. This project will also set the stage for future smart traffic systems.

The renovation project includes six ramps and spans 6.6 kilometers of road, extending from Longhua Road West to Nanpu Bridge. This marks the Inner Ring Road's fourth major upgrade since 2022.

Construction will occur in four phases. The first phase, which involves replacing crash barriers on the outer ring, is set to begin on September 8.

The work is anticipated to be completed by October 27, with later stages scheduled according to traffic conditions.

Authorities have stated that daytime traffic, from 6 am to midnight, will not be affected.

Credit: Ti Gong

Traffic police warned that nighttime closures will increase pressure on Zhongshan Road S. below the viaduct. Take parallel Zhaojiabang Road, Xietu Road, and Longhua Road M.

The Inner Ring Road will have new sensors to monitor the structures when it's finished. The digital system will be upgraded.

The design will also reserve interfaces for "vehicle-road cooperation" for planned autonomous driving. The 47.7-kilometer Inner Ring Road connects the Puxi and Pudong districts. Residents now travel on elevated highways instead of surface streets since their opening in the 1990s.