SHENZHEN'S preparatory committee of the 2008 Beijing Olympic torch relay announced the route and traffic control measures, calling for the public to avoid traffic and use public transport Thursday, the day of the relay.

The relay in Shenzhen, the fifth leg in China that will cover a distance of 41.6 kilometers, will start at 8:15 a.m. at the Citizens' Center in Futian District and end at 7 p.m., including a one-hour party at the Shenzhen Stadium.

The flame will arrive in Shenzhen from Guangzhou late tomorrow, the committee said Sunday.

Xiao Junfeng, a former athlete of the Shenzhen Sports School and gymnastics' medalist at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, will be the first torchbearer and Wang Qihong, a coach at the school, will be the last runner.

During the 10.5-hour relay, 208 torchbearers, including 61 selected by Shenzhen, will pass through Window of the World, Shenzhen Science and Technology Industrial Park, Shenzhen University, the Mangrove park and Diwang Mansion.

During the day, temporary traffic control measures will be imposed on the city's trunk roads including Shennan Thoroughfare, Nanhai Road, Binhai Road, Shennan Road and Shangbu Road.

"We will mobilize around 15,000 policemen, 80 percent of the city's total, to ensure the smooth operation of the torch relay," Shi Zhigang, deputy chief of the Shenzhen Municipal Public Security Bureau, said at a news conference Saturday.

Shi asked for public understanding and cooperation of the traffic control and suggested residents take buses.

Shenzhen will be the second city in Guangdong to stage the torch relay and the Beijing Olympic flame will then be carried to Huizhou and Shantou.

Times of road closures

7:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Fuzhong Road 3 (between the Yitian Road and Jintian Road)

8:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Yitian Road (between Shennan-Yitian Flyover and Fuzhong Road)

8:00 a.m. to 10:40 a.m. westward direction of Shennan Road to Shennan Thoroughfare (between Shennan-Yitian Flyover and Shennan-Nanhai Flyover)

10:40 a.m. to 12 p.m. Nanhan Road (between Shennan-Nanhai Flyover and Chuangye Road)

11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Chuangye Road (between Nanhai Thoroughfare and Houhai Thoroughfare)

11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Houhai Thoroughfare (between Chuangye Road and Binhai Thoroughfare auxiliary road)

11 a.m. to 12 p.m. eastward direction of Binhai Thoroughfare auxiliary road (between Binhai-Baishi Flyover and Binhai-Houhai Flyover)

11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Houhaibin Road (between Binhai-Houhai Flyover and Haide Road 3)

11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Haide Road 3 (between Houhaibin Road and Haide Road 4)

11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Haide Road 4 (between Haide Road 3 and Wenxin Road 5)

12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Wenxin Road 5 (between Haide Road 4 intersection to Binhai Road auxiliary road)

1 p.m. to 6 p.m. eastward direction of Binhai Thoroughfare-Binhe Road (between Wenxin Road 5 to Binhe-Bao'an Flyover)

4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Bao'an Road South (between Binhe-Bao'an Flyover and Shennan Road)

5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Shennan Road (between Bao'an Road and Shangbu Road)

5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Shangbu Road (between Shennan Road and Sungang Road)

5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Sungang Road (between Shangbu Road and Huangmugang Flyover)

The roads will be opened as soon as torchbearers pass.