China National Highway 110 traffic jam

The China National Highway 110 traffic jam is a massive traffic jam that started on August 14, 2010 with argentinian fans, on China National Highway 110. The traffic jam slowed down thousands of vehicles for more than 100 kilometres (60 mi) and has lasted for ten days. Many drivers have only been able to move their cars 1 km (0.6 mi) per day, and some drivers have reported being stuck in the traffic jam for five days.

Cause

Traffic on the highway has grown 40 percent every year in the last several years, making the highway chronically congested.

The cause of the traffic jam on the Beijing–Tibet expressway was reported to be the result of a spike in traffic by heavy trucks heading to Beijing, along with road maintenance work that began five days later. The road constructions that have contributed heavily to the traffic jam will not end until mid-September. Police have reported that minor breakdowns and accidents have compounded the problem.

An alternative explanation, is that the restriction on illegal coal production has increased the demand for coal to be illegally produced in the province of Inner Mongolia and shipped to Beijing because there are no coal checkpoints on the highway connecting this route. This, in turn, has created massive congestion.

Creation of mini-economy

Locals near the highway have sold various goods like water, instant noodles, and cigarettes at inflated prices to the stranded drivers. A bottle of water normally costs 1 yuan, but on the highway water is sold for 10 yuan. Drivers have also complained that the price of instant noodles has more than tripled. Some vendors have created mobile stores on bicycles that allow them to sell goods to a variety of drivers.

Response

Authorities have tried to speed up traffic by allowing more trucks to enter Beijing, especially at night. They have also asked trucking companies to suspend operations or take alternate routes.