Construction work on the cross-Yangtze connection has accelerated. The Suzhou-Nantong Bridge opened to traffic on June 30, 2008, cutting travel time from Nantong to Shanghai to one hour. The bridge's northern highway section was built independently by the city, earning the highest marks in highway construction in Jiangsu province history. The Chongqi Bridge foundation was laid on Aug 1, 2008 and work began on Dec 26. Work on the bridge's northern highway was completed in 2008, at a cost of 150 million yuan. Pre-project work on the Chonghai Bridge has been handed over to the Jiangsu Department of Transportation and a pre-feasibility study by Jiangsu province has been completed.