The impressive completion of the Tianshan Shengli Tunnel marks a significant milestone in infrastructure development on the Chinese mainland. As the world's longest expressway tunnel, stretching 22.13 kilometers, it provides a new shortcut across the Tianshan Mountains in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.
This tunnel is a crucial segment of the Urumqi-Yuli Expressway, set to open in 2025. Once operational, it will dramatically reduce travel time between the northern city of Urumqi and Yuli County in the south from approximately seven hours to just over three hours. The Tianshan Shengli Tunnel itself will cut the journey across the mountain range from several hours to about 20 minutes.
Currently, National Highway 216 connects Urumqi and Korla, covering a distance of roughly 470 kilometers with an estimated driving time of seven hours. Limited to only two bus services daily, the route has long been a bottleneck for both local transportation and tourism.
The new expressway promises to transform travel between Urumqi and Korla, fostering economic opportunities and making the region more accessible to both residents and visitors. This development is poised to boost tourism and enhance the overall connectivity within the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.
Reference(s):
Boring of world's longest expressway tunnel completed in Xinjiang
cgtn.com
