Line 18 (Shanghai Metro)

Shanghai Metro Line 18 is a metro line on the Shanghai Metro that has been under construction since May 12, 2016^[1] with an expected completion date in 2020. The planned 44.6 km (27.7 mi) line with 30 stations will start from Changbei Road, Baoshan District, via Longyang Road to Hangtou Town, Pudong District. Line 18 will feature transfer points to lines 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 16.^[2] The first phase will be 36.13 km (22.45 mi) long and run from South Changjiang Road station to Hangtou with 26 stations.^[3] The second phase is planned to extend the line northwest 7 km (4.3 mi) and add five new stations. Proposals to extend the line further west are under consideration.

Controversy

During the planning of Line 18, large amounts of controversy was generated among local residents when the initial alignment of the southern section of Line 18 was shifted from Kangshen Road westwards 1 km (0.62 mi) to follow the S122 Hunan Highway instead. The new alignment, instead of directly serving the densely populated Kangshen Road axis of Zhoupu town, now merely serves the western edge of Zhoupu. Planners received uncharacteristically large volume of feedback on the decision, with about one third of the 300 calls and 3000 e-mails received pertaining to the change in alignment. Industry insiders have noted that the change in alignment was a compromise between local and regional transport demands. In addition, they noted the increased difficulty and cost of constructing a subway under the narrow Kangshen Road and that there is more land open to new development along the wider Hunan Highway.^[4]

Stations

References

Notes