On June 16, the Hubei Provincial Department of Transportation formally announced that toll collection for the Wuhan Tianhe Airport Expressway (S18) will terminate at 00:00 on June 19, 2025, following the expiration of its concession period. From this time onward, all vehicles will be exempt from paying tolls on this expressway.
The 17.8-kilometer Wuhan Tianhe Airport Expressway (S18), which opened in 1995, has implemented dual-direction toll collection for 30 years. In contrast, the Wuhan Tianhe Airport Second Expressway (S19), opened in 2014, continues to operate under standard toll collection policies.
Following the toll expiration, the S18 airport expressway will directly benefit millions of residents in areas such as Panlongcheng and Dongxihu District. Additionally, the S18 airport expressway is scheduled for reconstruction and expansion. The project will span approximately 13.9 kilometers, starting from the southern bank of the Fuhe River near Changma Elevated Bridge to Majia Lake Interchange where it intersects with the Airport Second Expressway. Key design improvements include maintaining an 80 km/h speed limit from the start to Fengheshan Interchange, upgrading the Fengheshan to Panlongcheng Hub section to 100 km/h, and restoring the Panlongcheng Hub to Majiu Lake Interchange segment to 80 km/h.
