Development Plan of Suburban Highway Networks in the Rapid Urbanization Process of Chengdu

Abstract

In the background of rapid urbanization, the unscientifically and irrationally designed urban highways have been main barriers for the integrity of the rural-urban infrastructure. The article takes Xindu District as an example. On the basis of the fieldworks, it points out that the current system of highway network which was manipulated by Traffic departments are inadequate in the overall considerations for industries, living, ecology and environment. The article raises the methodology of systematical planning. The planning shall be realized by the design of the density, the alignment, the cross section and the pavement of the highways. ChengDu has started the construction of traffic facilities to link the urban center with the second and third circle zones since “the eleventh 5-year plan” of integrative traffic planning. 5160 km of new or rehabilitated highways are accomplished since then. The urban villages are connected with each other. A great improvement has been achieved. However, the traffic departments who lead the design of rural highways usually set the alignment and specification from their point of view. Hence, the design may be lack of integrative consideration of the rural area and consequently caused the problem of fragment, low efficiency and anti-ecology, hence, affects the improvement of rural area on the one side; restrains the development of the urban area on the other. 2. FIELD DATA XinDu District lies in the middle of Chuan Xi plain. It’s located in the north suburban area of ChengDu and recognized as the sub center of ChengDu. The area of the district is 496 square kilometers with 13 towns, 255 villages.