Tibet has finished building its first ever expressway, linking the city centre of Lhasa with Gonggar Airport.

Photo by Edz'sta

The 38 kilometre, four-lane motorway will be toll-free and cut the travel time from downtown Lhasa to Gonggar Airport in the neighbouring Shannan Prefecture, to just 30 minutes.

According to the local government, the construction of the $246 million expressway - which began in April 2009 - was completed at the beginning of July, eleven months ahead of schedule.

The official opening of the new motorway has yet to be announced.

It is hoped that the new road will ease congestion on the existing No. 318 national highway, which has constant traffic jams all year round, the government said.