{"id":2626,"date":"2010-03-03T00:56:12","date_gmt":"2010-03-02T16:56:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.chengduliving.com\/?p=2626"},"modified":"2010-03-03T01:24:32","modified_gmt":"2010-03-02T17:24:32","slug":"chengdus-new-pedestrian-overpass-system","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.chengduliving.com\/chengdus-new-pedestrian-overpass-system\/","title":{"rendered":"Chengdu’s New Pedestrian Overpasses"},"content":{"rendered":"
Looking down over Chengdu’s roadscape is no longer a luxury reserved for tenants of high-rise apartments. Now, anyone on foot can enjoy a view of the street from Chengdu’s brand new pedestrian overpasses. Concrete bridges that cross over major roads have sprung up all over Chengdu during the Spring Festival this year and people are already streaming across, as migrant workers put on the finishing touches of gold and silver paint.<\/p>\n
Sichuan is one of China’s most populous provinces and Chengdu’s urban center had a very high population even before the economy took off. The official census<\/a> in the year 2000 pegged Chengdu at 3.3 million people, which is about a third the population of Shanghai that year. In 2008 Chengdu’s urban population climbed to 4.7 million — estimates range from 5-8 million people counting migrant workers, suburban sprawl and other unofficial populations. One thing is clear: the city is crowded and the transportation system has struggled to ease the crunch.<\/p>\n Ever since the economy took off, cars have clogged the streets and taxis are impossible to hail. The city slowly widened major streets like Renmin NanLu, but the limited road capacity of the rest of Chengdu forced the city to impose a moratorium on taxis. This ensures that every bus is full to the door, every bike lane is buzzing with mopeds and the sidewalks are still filled with people. The buildup of impatient pedestrians on either side of the crosswalks — often waiting 3 minutes or more for a walk light — resulted in crowding and accidents. The upcoming subway system<\/a> will help, but only one line is scheduled to be finished this year, so the city had to do something.<\/p>\n Enter the overpass.<\/p>\n