Wansheng Grand Bridge under construction

　　Yesterday, Chongqing Expressway Group announced that with the closure of the control project Wansheng Grand Bridge by the end of August, the Nanwan (Nanchuan to Wansheng) Expressway will open to traffic by the end of the year. At that time, it will take only 20 minutes from Wansheng to Nanchuan, and a loop tour will be created along the route including Jinfoshan, Xiannüshan, and Heishangu, providing citizens with a new tourism corridor.

　　Construction

　　One-sixth of Nanwan Expressway is bridges

　　The Nanwan Expressway starts at the Wansheng Tunnel entrance of the Qijiang-Wansheng Expressway and ends at the Nanchuan Interchange of the Chongqing-Hunan Expressway, with a total length of 29.95 kilometers. Along the route, there are five interchanges: Wansheng, Conglin, Nanping, Jinfoshan West, and Nanchuan. According to the plan, the entire line will have 20 bridges with a total length of more than 5 kilometers, accounting for one-sixth of the total length, as well as a 2,593-meter-long Qingshan Tunnel.

　　The head of the Construction Management Center of Chongqing Expressway Group introduced that the difficulty in the construction of the Nanwan Expressway is to overcome the construction risks in the steep cliff section between the Wansheng Grand Bridge and the Conglin Tunnel. The section from Wansheng Grand Bridge to Conglin Tunnel runs parallel to the cliff, and the Qingshan Tunnel is only 7 meters from the cliff. At the same time, constrained by natural conditions, the Nanwan Expressway shares a corridor with existing railways, provincial roads, local roads, high-voltage lines, and even rivers. The entire project has high construction safety risks, great technical difficulties, and arduous engineering, and has been called by experts a battle on a tightrope.

　　Speed-up

　　Wansheng to Nanchuan in 20 minutes

　　Despite numerous difficulties, the overall progress of the project is smooth. According to reports, the Nanwan Expressway started construction in May 2010. Currently, all tunnel works have been completed, and the roadbed and bridge works are also nearing completion. Yesterday, according to Chongqing Expressway Group, with the closure of the control project Wansheng Grand Bridge by the end of August, the entire expressway is expected to open to traffic by the end of the year. At that time, driving from Wansheng to Nanchuan will take only 20 minutes, saving 40 minutes compared to the original Provincial Road 303.

　　A relevant person in charge of Chongqing Expressway Group introduced that the Nanwan Expressway will connect the G75 Chongqing-Guizhou Expressway and the G65 Chongqing-Hunan Expressway, two major corridors out of the province and to the sea. At the same time, another expressway will be added between the main city and Nanchuan. Via the Chongqing-Hunan Expressway through Qijiang and Wansheng, Nanchuan can be reached in one hour.

　　Planning

　　Three districts and counties to create a loop tour

　　Although the Nanwan Expressway has not yet opened to traffic, surrounding districts and counties have begun planning to take advantage of the convenient expressway access to layout industrial parks and tourism industries, attracting many investors.

　　A relevant person in charge of Nanchuan District also stated that this expressway has laid a solid foundation for Nanchuan to build a 100-billion-yuan industrial park and a nationally renowned tourist city. Recently, many enterprises from Shanghai, Jiangsu, and other places have come to inspect and invest. Wansheng plans to build the Conglin Industrial Park and a full industrial chain in the coal-power-chemical zone, using the convenience of the expressway to ensure the input of raw materials and rapid output of products. It is expected that by 2015, the output value of these two parks will reach 10 billion yuan.

　　In terms of tourism, the Nanwan Expressway will connect the Chongqing-Hunan and Chongqing-Guizhou expressways, linking the three districts and counties of Wulong, Nanchuan, and Wansheng. At that time, self-driving to Xiannüshan, Jinfoshan, and Heishangu will take only one hour. The radiated attractions also include Shilin, Jiuguoqing, and Tonggutan Canyon in Wansheng; Shenlongxia and Lixiang Lake in Nanchuan; Furong Cave and Houping Tiankeng in Wulong, etc.

　　At present, the three districts and counties have planned to build loop tour scenic areas to achieve resource sharing and contiguous development, aiming to retain tourists. It is expected that after the loop tour opens, the annual number of tourists is expected to increase from the current 5 million to 7 million, and tourism revenue will increase from the current 2 billion yuan to 3.5 billion yuan.

　　Related news

　　Zhongliangshan Tunnel construction

　　Single-tube bidirectional traffic at night

　　Starting tonight, the Zhongliangshan Tunnel will launch a ventilation system capacity expansion and renovation project. During the construction period, from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. the next morning, until September 24. At that time, the outbound tunnel will be closed for construction, and the inbound tunnel will have single-tube bidirectional traffic.

　　Chongqing Expressway Group introduced that currently, the daily traffic volume of the Zhongliangshan Tunnel on the Chengdu-Chongqing Expressway has reached 65,000 vehicles, nearly three times the original design traffic volume. To improve the tunnel traffic environment and ensure traffic order, the Expressway Group will start the ventilation system capacity expansion and renovation project of the Zhongliangshan Tunnel from today to September 24. To cooperate with the project, traffic control will be implemented in the Zhongliangshan Tunnel during the construction period.

　　According to reports, to minimize the impact of construction on vehicle traffic, all construction is scheduled late at night. Specifically, from today to September 24, every night from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. the next morning, the outbound tunnel will be closed for construction, and the inbound tunnel will have single-tube bidirectional traffic.

　　Chongqing Expressway Group reminds that the speed limit in the controlled section is 40 km/h, vehicles should keep right and pass in order, and lane changing and overtaking are strictly prohibited. Oversized vehicles with a width exceeding 3 meters and a height exceeding 4.8 meters are strictly prohibited from passing through the tunnel.

　　The Zhongliangshan Tunnel is a necessary tunnel for entering and exiting the city on the Chongqing section of the Chengdu-Chongqing Expressway, with huge traffic volume. So how can vehicles avoid congestion during construction? Chongqing Expressway Group suggests that for the outbound direction, vehicles can choose to transfer from Erlang Interchange or Xihuan Interchange to Huafu Road and bypass via Baishiyi, or choose the Chongqing-Suining Expressway and bypass via the Ring Expressway. For the inbound direction, vehicles can divert from the Ring Expressway via Zouma Interchange to the Ring Expressway, or choose Baishiyi Interchange and bypass via Huafu Road.

　　Chongqing Expressway Group reminds that during the construction period, drivers who are unclear about road conditions or encounter detours can call 12122 or learn about relevant control information through variable message signs, etc., and reasonably arrange their travel routes.