A new cross-provincial road linking Shanghai's Qingpu District and Wujiang District in Jiangsu Province opened for traffic on July 25, cutting travel time between the two areas from 20 minutes to just five minutes.

Xueluoyang Road, the first cross-provincial connection launched in the 15th Five-Year Plan period for the Yangtze River Delta Ecology and Greenery Integration Demonstration Zone, serves as a key artery in the Water Town Parlor's backbone road network. Stretching 4.53 kilometers from Fenhu Avenue in Wujiang to Huqingping Highway in Qingpu, the four-lane road features a lake-crossing bridge.

The 480-meter Xueluoyang Bridge, a nine-span deck arch bridge designed with Jiangnan water town aesthetics, stands as the project's centerpiece. The structure blends with surrounding paddy fields and fish ponds, creating a new landmark in the demonstration zone.

Construction began in May, 2024, and was completed in July this year under coordinated efforts from Shanghai and Jiangsu authorities.

The road represents an innovative practice in cross-regional project approval. Qingpu and Wujiang authorities signed an integrated approval cooperation agreement, unifying planning, design and review processes while adopting a common road name. The model provided replicable experience for future cross-provincial infrastructure projects.

Simultaneously, a cross-provincial bus route was rerouted to use the new road. Running between Lili Tourist Center in Wujiang and Oriental Land Station in Qingpu, the 38-kilometer route connects with Shanghai Metro Line 17. The optimized route adds two stops at Fenhu Avenue and Fenhu Science Innovation Park, with nine stops in total.

The new road brings fresh scenery and travel experiences. Many local residents have made special trips to visit the Xueluoyang Bridge.

A resident surnamed Zhong took her children on a tour during the summer vacation to admire the newly built bridge. She plans to invite friends to take the cross-provincial bus to Lili. Traveling across provincial borders for market visits and family reunions has become far easier, said Zhong.

Smoother roads boost mobility and fuel industrial growth. The opening of Xueluoyang Road further improves the interconnected road network of the demonstration zone and accelerates the two-way flow of talent, industries and resources between Shanghai and Jiangsu. As more cross-provincial transport links open, the time and spatial gaps between bordering areas of Shanghai and Jiangsu continue to narrow.