CONSTRUCTION work on the third phase of Metro Line 13 will start this year after getting environmental clearance.

The third phase will have three stations — Zhongke, Xuelin and Zhangjiang roads — and go past ShanghaiTech University and the Zhangjiang High-tech Park. Work is expected to be completed by 2017.

Currently, Line 13 operates from Jinyun Road Station in Jiading District and connects to Line 3 and 4 at Jinshajiang Road. The first phase of Line 13 was expected to connect Jiading District to Nanjing Road W. Station in downtown Jing’an District. But much of it is still under construction, as is the southeast-bound second phase, which goes under the Huangpu River before reaching Huaxia Road M. Station in Pudong.