The left lane of the Gedinggai to Dongsheng West section of the Baotou-Maoming G65 expressway -- in Ordos in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region -- was officially opened to traffic on Nov 3, according to local media reports.

As a section of the Baotou-Maoming expressway extension project, the section from Gedinggai to Dongsheng runs a total length of 16 kilometers.

The Baotou Dongsheng section reconstruction and the extension project of the Baotou-Maoming Expressway consists of the main Shulinzhao Dongsheng reconstruction and expansion section and the Baotou West connecting section, the media reports added.

At present, the east half lane of the main expressway has been opened to traffic. It is expected that the entire expressway will be opened to traffic by the end of 2020.

Officials said the construction of the project is of great significance for the country and autonomous region’s expressway network.

They said it will promote the development of Hohhot-Baotou-Yulin economic zone and the Hohhot-Baotou-Ordos urban agglomeration.

It will improve the traffic capacity and service levels of the national highway transportation corridor, improve regional traffic conditions, as well as promote the high-quality economic development of Inner Mongolia autonomous region.

At the same time, the project is also seen as being of great significance for the moves by Dongsheng district in Ordos to integrate into Hohhot-Baotou-Yulin economic zone and the Hohhot-Baotou-Ordos urban agglomeration.