The Bund area will have more public space, squares, greenbelts and fewer vehicles by 2010 when its face-lift is completed, city officials said yesterday.

The blueprint of the future Bund is being exhibited at the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall at People's Square. And a text version is available on the Website of the Shanghai Urban Planning Administrative Bureau for public reaction.

"We believe the new Bund will be more popular with people," Wu Jiang, the bureau's deputy director, said.

He said the face-lift of the Bund was being conducted along a 1.8-kilometer coastal line along the Huangpu River, from Suzhou Creek in the north to the Shiliupu area in the south. "The general purpose of the project is to leave public activity spaces for pedestrians as much as possible," he said.

According to the plan, the current 11 traffic lanes will be reduced to six mostly to be used by public transport including taxis.

The fence of Huangpu Park will be removed so the greenbelt will become a natural part of the Bund. A new Festival Square has been planned for construction near Fuzhou Road for public activities.

Areas around the current meteorological tower near Yan'an Road E. will also be transferred into a new square including a viewing platform. Inside the tower will be an exhibition of the history of the Bund.

The area of the current elevated riverside walkways will be expanded and be connected to Zhongshan Road E1 with ramps.

The size of the square around the statue of Chengyi - the first mayor of Shanghai of the People's Republic of China - will be doubled. More public services - such as newspaper kiosks and food stores - and alfresco facilities will be available.

More plants, particularly trees and shrubs, will be planted in the area to provide shelter for pedestrians.

The Wusong Floodgate Bridge will be removed.