The design plan for an interchange on the expressway linking Pingyuan county, Guangdong province, and Wuping county, Fujian province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Preliminary construction on a new expressway linking Guangdong and Fujian provinces began on Wednesday, according to transportation authorities in Guangdong.

The new expressway will become the sixth of its kind linking the two provinces upon completion in 2029, according to Guangdong Transportation Group.

The 42.8-kilometer expressway is designed for speeds of up to 100 kilometers per hour, with half of the line being bridges and tunnels that cross the most mountainous areas in northeastern Guangdong, the authorities said.

The road will directly link Pingyuan county of Meizhou, Guangdong, to Wuping county of Longyan, Fujian.

"The expressway will help optimize the transportation network, facilitating economic and social interaction between Guangdong and Fujian," said Liu Xiaohua, general manager of Guangdong Transportation Group.

The journey from Wuping to core areas in the Pearl River Delta in Guangdong will be shortened by approximately 40 kilometers, saving about 30 minutes of travel time, according to the group.