LHASA, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- Local transport authorities in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region said a total of 24,306 kilometers of roads had been added to the region over the past five years.

By the end of 2017, the total length of the region's road network reached 89,504 km, according to the regional transport department.

Seven major high-level roads were opened to traffic during the last five years, including those linking Lhasa to Nyingchi, the airport to the downtown of Xigaze, and the Gonggar airport in Lhasa to Tsetang township.

Poor transport has hindered agricultural development and animal husbandry in the region. During the past five years, construction of 3,005 rural road projects were started, with 1,325 now finished. Currently, the rural areas of Tibet have over 60,000 km of roads.

In 2018, the region expects to add another 6,000 km of roads, making the total length reach 96,000 km by the end of the year.