The Shandong Province Department of Transportation recently released a "2023 Public Notice of Commendations for Outstanding Achievements in the Transportation Sector", as mandated by the CPC Shandong Provincial Committee Office and the Shandong Province People's Government Office. Qingdao has emerged as the top performer in the province for its notable effectiveness in transportation investment and completion, leading among cities. This marks Qingdao's second consecutive year in the top tier for inspection and incentives in this field.

Good transport infrastructure stands out for its significant features: substantial investment, swift implementation, favorable comprehensive benefits, and potent catalytic effects. Boosting the construction of transport infrastructure serves as a pivotal support for expanding domestic demand, ensuring stable growth, and enhancing urban functionality. In the past year, the Qingdao Municipal Transportation Bureau capitalized on the economic recovery phase after three years of pandemic control, focusing strategically on investment attraction to ensure tangible progress in project construction. By implementing comprehensive progress management, assigning investment roles at a granular level, and closely monitoring investment operations, the Bureau expedited the progress of 107 transportation projects totaling 158.2 billion yuan in investment. By the end of 2023, the annual investment had reached 25.615 billion yuan, marking continuous growth. There was a strong focus on advancing 31 major transportation infrastructure projects among these projects, including 18 highways, 4 railways, 7 ports, and 2 hubs. After a year of dedicated efforts, 12 projects commenced as scheduled, such as the expansion of the Qinglan Expressway from Hetao to Huangdao and the construction of the Dongjiakou-Liangshan Expressway from the western section of the Shenyang–Haikou Expressway. Additionally, 9 projects were completed ahead of schedule, including sections of the Qinglan Expressway, the Mingcun-Dongjiakou Highway, and key infrastructure like the Qingdao National Road 204 Dagu River Bridge, the Dongjiakou Port area facilities, the Zhenhua Crude Oil Depot, and the Dongjiakou Port Crude Oil Commercial Reserve.

The rest of 2024 will see the Qingdao Municipal Transportation Bureau fully dedicate itself to concluding the three-year push for enhancing transportation infrastructure construction. The primary focus will be driving forward 106 transportation projects with a total investment of 169.893 billion yuan. The bureau will oversee ongoing projects to ensure the swift completion of tangible engineering milestones. Additionally, efforts will be intensified to strengthen project reserves through comprehensive preliminary work. Moreover, proactive steps will be taken to advance the digitization upgrade, green low-carbon transition, and extensive equipment renewal within transportation infrastructure to consistently identify growth opportunities aligned with the direction of emerging productive forces, thereby offering robust investment support for the province and city's economic recovery and progress. The city is advancing 35 transportation initiatives in terms of priority projects this year to focus on enhancing port capabilities, ensuring reliable airport transportation, facilitating smooth traffic flow around Jiaozhou Bay, and improving the northern urban area's capacity to complement the operation of the SCO Demonstration Area (SCODA) and Free Trade Zone are while integrating transportation networks within the Qingdao metropolitan area. This is expected to fulfill national strategic objectives and regional development needs to provide robust support for enhancing the city's overall capacity and influence. This effort accelerates Qingdao's role as a pioneer in Shandong's transportation powerhouse, contributing to its status as a leading region in national transportation development. By year-end, efforts will be directed towards completing eight critical projects, including the Jiaozhou segment of the Blue Valley-Jiaodong International Airport Express Lane, the Weifang-Yantai High-speed Railway, the Wahan Road West Extension project, the Dongjiakou Port Liquid Tank Storage project, and the logistics warehousing project at Jiaodong International Airport. Additionally, there will be a focus on expediting the commencement of projects like the Laizhou-Qingdao Expressway. Key projects like the Shenyang–Haikou Expressway, and Qinglan Expressway expansion will prioritize the integration of the "dual carbon" goals with green and smart transportation development. This involves a continuous emphasis on technological innovation application, hastening the formation and development of new transportation productivity, and propelling high-quality development in the transportation sector.