Xintai-Taierzhuang Expressway in Shandong province [Photo/iqilu.com]

Construction of Xintai-Taierzhuang Expressway has been completed, and the highway will open to traffic in December, local media reported on Dec 18.

The expressway starts from Xintai, a county-level city in Tai'an city, and ends in Taierhuang district, Zaozhuang city.

The route is 157.55 kilometers long and passes through Tai'an, Linyi and Zaozhuang cities in Shandong province.

With a total investment of 15.45 billion yuan ($2.36 billion) , the project is designed as a two-way four-lane highway with a designed speed limit of 120 km/h. Once open to traffic, it will only take two and a half hours to drive from Jinan to Zaozhuang, an hour less than before.

The expressway is expected to play a crucial role in regional economic and cultural exchanges and promote poverty alleviation in Shandong province.