As reported by Xiangyang Evening Paper, the eastern section of Xiangyang of Macheng-Zhuxi Expressway extended 58.672-kilometer-long was put into service on February 10.

Functioning as a vital east-west provincial thoroughfare across the north central part of Hubei Province, Macheng-Zhuxi Expressway is also one significant component of Macheng-Ankang Expressway in national expressway network. Spanning 665 kilometers in whole length, Macheng-Zhuxi Expressway started eastward from Changlingguan of Macheng, a city bordering on Anhui Province, and arrived at Guanyazi of Zhuxi County in the west, a place adjacent to Shaanxi Province. Abutting with the west section of Suizhou of Macheng-Zhuxi Expressway, the eastern section of Xiangyang of Macheng-Zhuxi Expressway started from Liujiagang in the east, a place linking together Suizhou City (Sui County) and Xiangyang City (Zaoyang), and spread along Han River through Pinglin Town, Banqiaodian Town, Nanying Office, Wangji Town before it arrived at Xiaohe Town of Yicheng. Connected to north traffic hub of Yicheng and Erenhot-Guangzhou Expressway, the eastern section of Xiangyang was built in line with four-lane expressway standard, featuring a design speed of 100km/h and a roadbed width of 26m.

Upon the completion of the road section, the highway network in Hubei Province will become better woven than ever, bringing more traffic convenience to neighboring countries and cities like Zaoyang City, Yicheng City, Nanzhang County, Baokang County along the line. The eastern section of Xiangyang of Macheng-Zhuxi Expressway has great value to enhance the ability of radiation in Xiangyang, push the economic and social development of eco-culture tourism circle in western Hubei Province and promote regional competitiveness.