WORK started on July 25 on the extension of Shanghai Metro's Line 2 from Long Yang Road to Pudong International Airport.
Long Yang Road is at present the penultimate station on Line 2 at its eastern end, where an interchange already exists with the maglev service to the airport. The extension will take the metro into the airport itself by May 2010 via a 30·8 km route that will serve 12 stations, nine of which will be built underground. The developers have revised original plans to elevate much of the line after environmental concerns were raised. An underground alignment will reduce noise pollution for local residents.
Line 2 is also to be extended westwards to the mainly-domestic airport at Hongqiao, thus connecting both facilities. The line would then cover 60 km with a projected end-to-end journey time of 1 h 20 min.
