As the year draws to a close, Qingdao's highway construction projects have achieved another significant milestone. On December 30, the mainline of the expansion project for the Nancun to Qingdao-Rizhao border section of the Shenyang-Haikou Expressway was officially opened to traffic. This project, spanning approximately 131.45 kilometers, has been widened from a four-lane to an eight-lane expressway. During the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, the total length of eight-lane expressways in the city has increased from 81 kilometers to 228 kilometers, raising their proportion in the network from less than 9% to 25%. These achievements in high-quality transportation development provide strong momentum for consolidating Qingdao's status as an international comprehensive transport hub and accelerating the construction of the Qingdao International Shipping Center.
This year, the city has accelerated the construction of three major projects: the expansion of the Nancun to Qingdao-Rizhao border section of the Shenhai Expressway, the expansion of the Laiyang to Weifang section of the Rongcheng-Weifang Expressway, and the expansion of the Hetao to Huangdao section of the Qingdao-Lanzhou Expressway. These projects form a "one vertical, one horizontal, one loop" expressway expansion pattern, with a total expansion length of nearly 260 kilometers, setting a historical record and accounting for about 30% of the city's total expressway mileage. Once widened, these three expressways will enable the Qingdao metropolitan area to radiate westward more safely, conveniently, and efficiently towards the Yellow River basin and connect southward more effectively to the Yangtze River Delta.
As a key north-south artery, the expansion of the Nancun to Qingdao-Rizhao border section of the G15 Shenhai Expressway connects port clusters and links to the Yangtze River Delta. The G15 Shenhai Expressway is a backbone component of the national expressway network, designated as the "Vertical Line 2" among the 11 north-south routes in the National Highway Network Plan. It runs north-south through the Jiaodong Peninsula within Shandong Province, connecting the cities of Yantai, Qingdao, and Rizhao, serving as a vital expressway corridor from the Jiaodong Peninsula to coastal regions like Jiangsu Province and Shanghai. On December 31, 2024, the left side of the project opened to traffic; on November 13, 2025, a key project milestone was achieved with the successful rotation of the province's largest unequal-span steel box girder bridge over a railway; and on December 30, the mainline was officially opened. The opening of this project will further enhance the capacity of the expressway network and is of great significance for strengthening transportation links between Qingdao, the Yangtze River Delta, and the Bohai Rim region, as well as for promoting industrial synergy within the Jiaodong Economic Circle and supporting the coordination of major strategic platforms.
As a crucial east-west corridor, the expansion of the Laiyang to Weifang section of the S16 Rongwei Expressway facilitates coordinated development between the Jinan and Qingdao metropolitan areas. The S16 Rongwei Expressway is part of the "Lian 3" line in Shandong Province's "Nine Vertical, Five Horizontal, One Loop, Seven Radial, Multiple Connector" expressway network and is an important east-west expressway in the Shandong Peninsula. The expansion project starts in Laiyang City, Yantai, and ends in Fangzi District, Weifang, with a total length of 137.27 kilometers, of which 96.86 kilometers are within Qingdao's jurisdiction. The project involves expanding 83.98 kilometers to six lanes and 12.88 kilometers to four lanes, with a design speed of 120 km/h. In July 2025, the project obtained approval for preliminary land use, accelerating the construction phase. An investment of 1.1 billion yuan was completed within the year, and the project is scheduled to be fully open to traffic by October 2027. Its implementation will continuously improve the structure of the regional expressway network, effectively alleviate growing transit traffic pressure in Pingdu and Laixi cities, and provide convenience for public travel. Furthermore, upon completion, the project will play a vital role in accelerating regional integrated development, strengthening the synergy between the Jinan and Qingdao cores, and enhancing connectivity among the "Jinan-Zibo-Weifang-Qingdao-Yantai-Weihai" urban corridor, injecting new momentum into transportation links in the Shandong Peninsula.
As a key bay-loop project, the expansion of the Hetao to Huangdao section of the G22 Qinglan Expressway strengthens regional road network connectivity, linking Qingdao's core urban areas, Hongdao, and Huangdao. The G22 Qinglan Expressway connects the eastern, northern, and western urban areas of Qingdao, passing by several important economic functional zones such as the China-SCO Local Economic and Trade Cooperation Demonstration Area, the Qingdao Area of the China (Shandong) Pilot Free Trade Zone, and the Sino-German Ecopark, while also linking major transport infrastructure like Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport and Qianwan Port Area. On October 31, 2023, the expansion of the Shuanggbu to Hetao section of the Qinglan Expressway was completed and opened, effectively alleviating the traffic bottleneck between Jiaodong International Airport and the main urban area and boosting urban development efficiency. The ongoing expansion of the Hetao to Huangdao section adopts an eight-lane expressway standard. It starts at the Hetao Junction, intersecting with the Qingdao New Airport Expressway, and proceeds westward along the existing road to the Huangdao East Junction. The project also includes the expansion of the Huangdao East Junction to Huangdao Toll Station section of the Qingdao Qianwan Port Area No. 1 Port Connection Expressway (S7601). Upon completion, it will effectively connect with the previously opened Shuanggbu to Hetao section, significantly improving road service levels, maximizing the overall efficiency of the network, and promoting regional economic and social development.
The "one vertical, one horizontal, one loop" expansion pattern effectively links logistics, capital flows, and information flows. It is strengthening the collection and distribution framework for the Qingdao International Shipping Center and widening the maritime "channel" for high-quality development in the Yellow River basin, continuously demonstrating the mission and responsibility of Qingdao's transportation sector within the urban development landscape. By the shores of Jiaozhou Bay, these extending expressways, like vibrant arteries, inject a continuous stream of vitality into the city's development. The completion of these projects will not only persistently optimize and perfect the city's expressway network layout but also contribute significantly to the construction of the Qingdao Pilot Zone within the Shandong Demonstration Area of a Leading Transportation Nation.
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