Sichuan province has started construction of the "most convenient" expressway linking sea coastal areas in Pearl River Delta in the south or to the Gulf of Tonkin area in the southwestern region, Xinhua reported.

The expressway runs across Sichuan and Guizhou province, covering a distance of 293 kilometres. It will have two lanes in both directions and three along the widest section. Designed maximum speed is 100 kilometres.

The project costs CNY19.8 billion (US$2.9 billion) and will be opened to traffic by September 2012.

Sichuan province currently has seven rail routes, seven expressways and one shipping line linking itself to the Pearl River Delta. By 2012, the province will develop another five expressways and one shipping line.