BEIJING, CHINA -- We’ve all been struck in traffic at some point in our lives. With Central New York winters taking a big chunk out of available road construction time each year, DOT crews have to cram their work into the remaining months, and sometimes that can cause backups on our major commuter routes like Interstate 81, Interstate 690, and the Thruway. Anyone who has tried to take I-81 or I-690 into Syracuse during rush hour this summer can attest to that.
Many of these traffic tie-ups can make commuters late for work. Five minutes, ten minutes, even a half hour is not uncommon on the worst of days.
Well, have you ever been five days late to work?
In northern China, a massive traffic jam that stretches for dozens of miles and hit its 10-day mark on Tuesday stems from road construction in Beijing that won't be finished until the middle of next month, an official said.
Bumper-to-bumper gridlock spanning for 60 miles (100 kilometers) with vehicles moving little more than a half-mile (one kilometer) a day at one point has improved since this weekend, but some drivers have been stuck in the jam for five days.
The traffic jam started August 14 on a stretch of the highway that is frequently congested, especially after large coalfields were discovered in Inner Mongolia. Drivers stranded in the gridlock passed the time sleeping, walking around, or playing cards and chess. Local villagers were doing brisk business selling instant noodles, boxed lunches and snacks, weaving between the parked trucks on bicycles.
Though there were no reports of road rage violence, drivers complained about price-gouging by villagers who were their only source of food and water. A bottle of water that normally costs 1 yuan (15 cents) was selling for 10 yuan ($1.50), while the price of a 3 yuan- (45 cent-) cup of instant noodles had more than tripled, media reports said.
"A boxed lunch is 10 yuan ($1.50), and one box isn't enough for me," China National Radio cited a driver surnamed Lu as saying. "I'm spending up to 50 yuan (about $7.50) a day on food. It's more expensive than eating in a restaurant."
The highway construction in Beijing that is restricting inbound traffic flow and causing the jam "will not be finished until September 17," said Zhang Minghai, director of Zhangjiakou city's Traffic Management Bureau general office.
Authorities were trying to speed up traffic by allowing more trucks to enter Beijing, especially at night, Zhang said. They also asked trucking companies to suspend operations and advised drivers to take alternate routes.
China's roadways are increasingly overburdened as the number of private vehicles booms along with commercial truck traffic hauling materials like coal and food to cities. Traffic slowdowns because of construction and accidents are common, though a 10-day traffic jam is unusual even in China.
Of course this is a worst-case scenario, but how do you cope with traffic delays? Do you just go with the flow, or do you try to plan around it? Also, what is the longest you’ve had to wait in a traffic jam? Leave a comment below and share your story!
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.
