China achieved a major milestone in infrastructure development on December 30 by completing the world’s longest expressway tunnel through the snow-clad Tianshan Mountains in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region.
The 22.13-kilometer Tianshan Shengli Tunnel, once operational, will cut travel time across the Tianshan Mountains—one of the globe’s longest mountain ranges—from three hours to just 20 minutes.
This engineering marvel is set to greatly enhance connectivity between northern and southern Xinjiang, bolstering the region’s role as a pivotal hub on the Silk Road Economic Belt and strengthening links with Eurasian nations, according to the regional government.
Part of the 319.72-kilometer Urumqi-Yuli Expressway, which connects Urumqi, the regional capital in northern Xinjiang, to Yuli County in the south, the tunnel will dramatically cut travel time between the two areas. Once completed, the driving duration will drop from approximately seven hours to just over three. The expressway is scheduled to open in 2025.
Construction of the tunnel began in April 2020. The project faced numerous challenges, including an average elevation exceeding 3,000 meters and complex geological conditions, requiring the team to continuously innovate and adapt.
Situated near the Tianshan No. 1 Glacier and the Urumqi water source protection zone, the construction team adhered to strict ecological preservation measures to minimize environmental impact while ensuring progress.
The tunnel was constructed using a method involving three drifts and four shafts, as outlined by China Communications Construction Xinjiang Transportation Investment and Development Co., the company responsible for the project.
The company revealed that two specially designed tunnel boring machines were employed to construct the middle drift, providing a stable platform for further excavation.
This project marks the first instance of using a tunnel boring machine for road tunnel construction in China, representing a significant technological advancement. The adoption of innovative technologies reduced the construction timeline from an estimated 10 years to just over four, the company noted.
The new tunnel is expected to enhance connectivity between northern and southern Xinjiang, facilitating smoother movement of people and opening up greater opportunities for careers and development across the region.
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