Workers install the first pillar yesterday for a new South-North Elevated Road ramp on Zhongxing Road. — Ti Gong

THE South-North Elevated Road is having a new ramp installed to alleviate congestion near Shanghai Railway Station.

The first pillar, which was prefabricated, for the new ramp on Zhongxing Road in Jing’an District was erected around 2am yesterday, according to the Shanghai SMI Highway Group, which has invested in and takes charge of the construction.

Upon its completion by the end of the year, vehicles in north Shanghai will be able to drive to the north plaza of the Shanghai Railway Station directly via the new ramp.

The ramp is expected to offer effective relief to the congestion on Tianmu Road, especially during the ongoing construction of the Beiheng Passage, a 19-kilometer road to link Changning, Putuo, Jing’an, Huangpu, Hongkou and Yangpu districts that is due to be finished in 2019.

The ramp is also expected to lead to more railway passengers entering the station from the north plaza to balance the crowds between the station’s two plazas. Currently, over 60 percent of passengers enter the station through the south plaza because of its more convenient transport connections.

To reduce the impact on nearby residents, some 98 percent of the ramp structures are prefabricated.

The drilling machines are wrapped with rubber to cut the noise and vibration, according to the group. Mist fans are also used to blow away flying dust during construction.

Most construction work will be carried out in the daytime to avoid disturbing residents’ sleep.