Chinese officials quoted in the state news media attribute the epic congestion primarily to maintenance projects that began in mid-August and are not scheduled for completion until mid-September. Trucks carrying 8 tons or more of coal or fruit have been responsible for damaging the roadway, officials said, thus necessitating the work. coach handbags Motorists who regularly use the route counter that heavy traffic has long been a fact of life. "The problem is really that there are too many cars and trucks and not enough lanes," Bai said. "We drivers are accustomed to this sort of thing happening." cheap handbags outlets Like the L.A. freeway with the same number, the National Expressway 110 is heavily traveled, in this case by trucks carrying coal from recently opened fields of Inner Mongolia to christian louboutin sandals booming coastal cities. Coal provides the majority of the nation's energy, as well as a large portion of its notorious air pollution. The Global Times, an English-language newspaper with ties to the christian louboutin black, said the seemingly endless jam had eased somewhat in the last two days, but residents of the region say the congestion is simply spilling out onto other roads. The tie-up has created an economy of its own. Vendors sell boxed lunches, ramen noodles and drinking water to the captive audience, often at jacked-up prices. Roving gangs reportedly have preyed on fatigued motorists, siphoning gasoline as they snooze. christian louboutin pumps And because of the long-standing problems along the 110, dozens of small hotels have cropped up, catering to drivers who seek a respite to catch more serious sleep. "Business is good," said Li Chenli, a 40-year-old receptionist at a hotel in Xinghe, a stop along the route. "But we don't like the traffic jam. It's hard for relatives to come to visit. Life is inconvenient. Wherever you go, you're just waiting and waiting." christian louboutin Traffic is an increasing frustration in China, which has become the world's largest market for new cars. In 2009, sales rose 45%. According to one traffic official, the number of cars on the road in Beijing increases by 1,900 a day. At this point, the average speed of a car during morning commuting hours in the capital is 14.5 mph and is expected to drop to 9 mph by 2015, according to figures released Tuesday by the Beijing Transportation Research Center to the state news media. coach pureses In contrast, regional planners in Los Angeles say sensors buried under the pavement show an average rush-hour speed of about 20 mph. Beijing officials seeking to cope are experimenting with staggered work hours and restrictions on the number of days each car is permitted on the roads. coach bags