East China's Anhui Province will build more than 2,000 kilometers of expressways by 2005.

The investment for the projects, including three national highways and seven regional ones, totals more than 30 billion yuan, according to a local source.

Once the roads are completed, the travel time for automobiles will stand at only three hours from east to west in the province and six hours from south to north. In addition, automobiles from all counties will be able to reach an expressway within an hour.

At present, the province has 400 kilometers of expressways. Authorities expect the expressway construction to spur economic growth.

The total mileage of highways will reach 56,000 kilometers in Anhui by 2005, a source said. (Xinhua)