Sticking to the idea that transport is a strategic necessity for boosting its capacity and appeal, the county-level city of Taixing in East China's Jiangsu province has prioritized transportation infrastructure as a fundamental project to enhance its urban development.

At the construction site of the Xingyan South Extension Project, the workers are rushing to complete the road paving, showing a scene of bustling construction activities. Once completed, the extension project will address long-standing issues of narrow roads and traffic congestion for residents in the area.

By addressing the pain points in its transport network, implementing road connectivity plans, and optimizing travel conditions, Taixing has improved the efficiency of urban mobility, making travel more convenient for residents.

"There used to be some local jokes about Taixing's transport, saying that 'the Long March Road isn't long, the Tongjiang (Lake Connection) Road cannot connect, the Daqing (Grand Celebration) Road isn't grand, and the Jiangping (Smooth Lake) Road isn't smooth'," said Zhu Wei, section chief for urban-rural construction at Taixing Housing and Urban-Rural Development Bureau.

To resolve those long-standing "dead-end roads", the city has implemented targeted planning and reconstruction projects. The Long March Road, an artery among Taixing's nine main north-south roads, is located in a densely populated but commerce-active area in the old city, and has been troubled for years by connectivity issues and traffic bottlenecks.

To address the problem, the city launched the Long March Road South Extension Project in November last year, and now opening to traffic, it can link five surrounding routes, largely enhancing the region's road network.

While improving the road network, Taixing has also focused on enhancing the overall travel environment. Since the beginning of this year, the city has initiated the reconstruction and expansion of 14 roads, including the Xingyan South Extension, to alleviate urban traffic bottlenecks.

In parallel, it has upgraded rainwater and sewage pipelines on five major roads, such as Guoqing Road and Xingyan Road. Meanwhile, projects to address waterlogging at intersections like Wenjiang Road and Yunhe Road are also underway, along with efforts to improve and standardize wastewater treatment in designated areas.