Introduction

On July 31, 2023, at a regular press conference held by the Ministry of Transport, it was mentioned that in the first half of 2023, China completed 1.83 trillion yuan in fixed-asset investment in transportation, a year-on-year increase of 9.1%. Investment in highways reached 1,383 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 8.9%.

Construction of missing-link sections of national expressways and capacity expansion and reconstruction of busy traffic sections are underway, with a number of key highway projects being accelerated. The award information for the reconstruction and expansion of the Qingyuan Fogang to Guangzhou Taihe section of the Beijing-Hong Kong-Macao Expressway in Guangdong was announced; the Yuandun River Grand Bridge of the Shenzhen-Shanwei West Expressway reconstruction and expansion project was successfully closed; the preliminary design of the Beijing-Tianjin-Tanggu Expressway (Tianjin section) reconstruction and expansion project passed review... These key project constructions are constantly setting new records, and the accelerated building of a modern, high-quality national comprehensive three-dimensional transportation network has provided strong support for expanding domestic demand, stabilizing growth, and benefiting people's livelihoods.

In July 2023, the Ministry of Transport issued the "Announcement of Bidding for Technical Consulting Services for Preliminary Design Approval of National Key Highway Construction Projects (Second Batch of 2023)", covering 16 engineering projects divided into 10 contract sections. Among them, multiple expressways involve capacity expansion and reconstruction, with the highest reaching ten lanes in both directions. Which ones specifically? Let's take a look!

G0611 Zhangye to Wenchuan Expressway, Chuanzhusi to Wenchuan Section

The entire line is built to the standard of a four-lane expressway in both directions, with a main line length of approximately 198 kilometers and a design speed of 80 km/h. The entire line has 14 interchanges, with a bridge-tunnel ratio of approximately 94%. The proposed Diexi and Maoxian No. 2 tunnels both exceed 10 kilometers. The project is mainly located in the mountainous and hilly area of northwestern Sichuan, where the ecological environment is relatively fragile, the terrain and geological conditions along the route are complex, and it crosses multiple active fault zones with poorly developed geology. The estimated total investment of the project is approximately 54.8 billion yuan.

G4 Beijing-Hong Kong-Macao Expressway, Changsha Guangfu to Zhuzhou Wangshiwan Zhuting Section Capacity Expansion Project

The entire line adopts the capacity expansion and reconstruction of a newly built eight-lane expressway in both directions, with a main line length of approximately 144 kilometers and a design speed of 120 km/h. The entire line has 15 interchanges. The project is mainly located in low mountainous and hilly areas, where the terrain and geological conditions are relatively complex, with a bridge-tunnel ratio of approximately 30%. The proposed Laodao River Grand Bridge adopts a scheme of a through-type concrete-filled steel tubular tied-arch bridge with a main span of 110 meters. The estimated total investment of the project is approximately 31.4 billion yuan.

G0611 Zhangye to Wenchuan Expressway, Langmusi to Chuanzhusi Section

The entire line is built to the standard of a four-lane expressway in both directions, with a main line length of approximately 182 kilometers and a design speed of 80 and 100 km/h. The entire line has 6 interchanges, with a bridge-tunnel ratio of approximately 32%. The project is located on the edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, where the ecological environment is relatively fragile, the terrain and geological conditions along the route are relatively complex, and it crosses multiple active fault zones with high seismic intensity and poorly developed geology. The estimated total investment of the project is approximately 25.5 billion yuan.

G9904 Nanjing Metropolitan Area Ring Line, Jingwen Road River Crossing Channel

The entire line is built to the standard of a six-lane expressway in both directions on the upper level and a six-lane first-class highway in both directions on the lower level, with a total length of approximately 14 kilometers and a design speed of 80 and 100 km/h. The entire line has 3 interchanges (including 1 reserved). The main bridge across the Yangtze River is proposed to adopt a scheme of a double-tower, three-span suspension bridge with steel truss girders (1085+2186+752 meters), and the southern approach tunnel is 3.5 kilometers long. The project is located in the downstream alluvial plain area. The estimated total investment of the project is approximately 21.5 billion yuan.

G2 Beijing-Shanghai Expressway, Guangling to Jingjiang Section Expansion Project

The entire line adopts the standard reconstruction and expansion of a ten-lane expressway in both directions, with a total length of approximately 13 kilometers and a design speed of 120 km/h. The entire line has two interchanges, with a bridge-tunnel ratio of approximately 6%. The reconstruction and expansion mainly adopt the scheme of widening on both sides. The project is mainly located in plain and slightly hilly areas, where the terrain and geological conditions are relatively simple. The estimated total investment of the project is approximately 3.1 billion yuan.

G55 Erenhot-Guangzhou Expressway, Jingzhou Ring Section (excluding Libu Yangtze River Highway-Railway Bridge)

The entire line is built to the standard of a six-lane expressway in both directions, with a total length of approximately 47 kilometers and a design speed of 120 km/h. The entire line has 8 interchanges, with a bridge-tunnel ratio of approximately 79%. The project is located in plain and hilly areas, where the water system along the route is relatively developed and the terrain and geological conditions are relatively simple. The estimated total investment of the project is approximately 12 billion yuan.

G4223 Wuhan to Chongqing Expressway, Jingmen to Yichang Section

The entire line is built to the standard of a six-lane expressway in both directions, with a total length of approximately 65 kilometers and a design speed of 120 km/h. The entire line has 7 interchanges, with a bridge-tunnel ratio of approximately 42%. The project is located in plain and hilly areas, where the terrain and geological conditions are relatively simple. The estimated total investment of the project is approximately 11.7 billion yuan.

G50 Shanghai-Chongqing Expressway, Huangmei to Huangshi Section Reconstruction and Expansion Project

The entire line adopts the standard reconstruction and expansion of an eight-lane expressway in both directions, with a total length of approximately 111 kilometers and a design speed of 120 km/h. The entire line has 8 interchanges, with a bridge-tunnel ratio of approximately 7%. The reconstruction and expansion mainly adopt the scheme of widening on both sides, with local unilateral widening. The project is mainly located in plain and slightly hilly areas, where the construction conditions are relatively simple. The estimated total investment of the project is approximately 16.8 billion yuan.

G4013 Yangzhou to Leqing Expressway, Yongjia to Leqing Section

The entire line is built to the standard of a four/six-lane expressway, with a total length of approximately 42 kilometers and a design speed of 100 km/h. The entire line has 8 interchanges, with a bridge-tunnel ratio of approximately 88%. The project is located in the middle and low mountainous areas of southern Zhejiang, where the terrain and geological conditions are relatively complex and the fault structural zones along the route are relatively developed. The estimated total investment of the project is approximately 16.1 billion yuan.

Sichuan-Tibet Highway National Highway 318 Quality Improvement and Reconstruction Project: Jiarisongduo to Zuoqong County Section (Dongda Mountain Crossing), Zuoqong Bypass, Bomi Bypass

The entire line adopts the standard of new construction and reconstruction of two-lane second-class and third-class highways, with a total length of approximately 70 kilometers and a design speed of 30, 40, and 60 km/h. The Zuoqong Bypass and Bomi Bypass adopt the standard of new construction and reconstruction of second-class highways, with roadbed widths of 8.5 and 12 meters respectively; the Jiarisongduo to Zuoqong County Section adopts the standard of new construction and reconstruction of third-class highways, with a roadbed width of 7.5 meters. The project is located in the high-mountain and deep-valley area of the Hengduan Mountains, where the terrain and geological conditions are complex and the seismic intensity is high. The estimated total investment of the project is approximately 800 million yuan.

Sichuan-Tibet Highway National Highway 318 Quality Improvement and Reconstruction Project: Tiantuo Village to Genyao Village Section (Yela Mountain Crossing along the Nujiang River)

The entire line adopts the standard of new construction and reconstruction of two-lane second-class highways, with a total length of approximately 43 kilometers and a design speed of 60 km/h. The bridge-tunnel ratio is approximately 60%, and the proposed Genyao Grand Bridge adopts a scheme of a concrete-filled steel tubular arch bridge with a main span of 275 meters. The project is located in the high-mountain and deep-valley area of the Hengduan Mountains, where the terrain and geological conditions are complex and the seismic intensity is high. The estimated total investment of the project is approximately 4.8 billion yuan.

Sichuan-Tibet Highway National Highway 318 Quality Improvement and Reconstruction Project: Lulang Town to Nyingchi Section (Sejila Mountain Crossing)

The entire line adopts the standard of new construction and reconstruction of two-lane third-class highways, with a total length of approximately 35 kilometers and a design speed of 30 km/h. A new extra-long tunnel is built to cross Sejila Mountain, and the tunnel section adopts the standard of a separated single-carriageway expressway with a design speed of 80 km/h. The project is located in the high-mountain and deep-valley area of the Hengduan Mountains, where the terrain and geological conditions are complex and the seismic intensity is high. The estimated total investment of the project is approximately 2.4 billion yuan.

G3 Beijing-Taipei Expressway, Daliuying to Bengbu Interchange Section Reconstruction and Expansion Project

The entire line adopts the standard reconstruction and expansion of an eight-lane expressway in both directions, with a total length of approximately 23 kilometers and a design speed of 120 km/h. The entire line has 3 interchanges, with a bridge-tunnel ratio of approximately 5%. The Huaihe River Grand Bridge, proposed to be demolished and rebuilt, adopts a scheme of a simply supported steel box tied-arch bridge with a main span of 225 meters. The reconstruction and expansion mainly adopt the scheme of widening on both sides. The project is mainly located in plain and slightly hilly areas, where the terrain and geological conditions are relatively simple. The estimated total investment of the project is approximately 3.5 billion yuan.

G4231 Nanjing to Jiujiang Expressway, He County to Wuwei Section

The entire line is built to the standard of a four-lane expressway in both directions, with a total length of approximately 69 kilometers and a design speed of 120 km/h. The entire line has 8 interchanges, with a bridge-tunnel ratio of approximately 49.2%. The project is mainly located in plain and slightly hilly areas, where the terrain and geological conditions are relatively simple. The estimated total investment of the project is approximately 10.1 billion yuan.

G4223 Wuhan to Chongqing Expressway, Tianmen West Section

The entire line is built to the standard of a six-lane expressway in both directions, with a total length of approximately 47 kilometers and a design speed of 120 km/h. The entire line has 5 interchanges, with a bridge-tunnel ratio of approximately 73%. The project is located in plain and hilly areas, where the water system along the route is relatively developed and the terrain and geological conditions are relatively simple. The estimated total investment of the project is approximately 10.6 billion yuan.

G95 Capital Ring Expressway, Hebei Province National Highway 107 to Yulin Interchange Section Reconstruction and Expansion Project

The entire line adopts the standard reconstruction and expansion of an eight-lane expressway in both directions, with a total length of approximately 7 kilometers and a design speed of 120 km/h. The entire line has two interchanges, with a bridge-tunnel ratio of approximately 5%. The reconstruction and expansion mainly adopt the scheme of widening on both sides, with local unilateral widening. The construction conditions are relatively simple. The estimated total investment of the project is approximately 900 million yuan.