Massive traffic jam clears in northern China

The 60 mile-long traffic jam along the Beijing-Tibet highway appears to have cleared for now, AFP reported. The jam, which began after a construction start on August 14, stretched from just outside Beijing on a patch of National Expressway 110 headed toward Inner Mongolia. It caused particular headaches for coal transportation headed from Inner Mongolia, now China’s largest coal-producing province, to coastal areas. Government officials reported just a few days ago suggested that the gridlock would not be cleared until mid-September, but traffic now appears to be moving along briskly. While the cause and resolution of the jam remain something of a mystery, some point out that while the main roads are tolled, National Expressway 110 is free, encouraging heavier use.