The National Road No 335 linking Karamay and Urumqi is in the planning phase and when completed, is expected to shorten the travelling time and distance between the two cities, according to Karamay Daily.

According to information released by the Karamay transportation bureau, the National Road No 335 project has been listed in the national road network plan and construction work is expected to start in 2017.

Initial plans show that the road will start from Zhangjikou in Hebei province and terminate in Xinjiang's Yumin county.

"The opening of the National Road No 335 would shorten the time and distance travelling between Karamay and Urumqi. Also, the travelling distance between Karamay and Beijing will be shortened by more than 1,000 kilometers," said Zou Yongjun, deputy director of the Karamay transportation bureau.

At present, the distance between Karamay and Urumqi via highway is about 312 kilometers, resulting in an average travel time of 4.5 hours.

According to Zou, the construction of the road will be positive to the economy integration and development of cities along the road.