Shanghai will soon start the first major infrastructure improvements to the Bund in nearly two decades, giving the historical waterfront district a 4 billion yuan makeover before the World Expo in 2010.
The project includes building a 3.3km tunnel under the Bund to reduce traffic congestion, renovating the century-old Waibaidu Bridge and demolishing a massive exit ramp for the elevated highway at the southern end.
'There's going to be a new Bund waterfront. There's been a realisation with 2010 that the waterfront is still an important part of Shanghai's image,' said historian Peter Hibbard, author of the book The Bund Shanghai.
The project had been rumoured for months and preparation work had started on the Bund, but the government had not released details until this week.
Shanghai is trying to beautify its waterfront before the World Expo, which the city will host at a site on both banks of the Huangpu River.
The government has also tried to clean up heavily polluted Suzhou Creek in hopes of using its banks for recreation and development.