Recently, it was learned from Hunan Expressway Group that workers are pressing ahead with construction on the cantilever-cast continuous girder of the Yuanshui Grand Bridge in the eighth contract section of the Yiyang-Changde Capacity Expansion Project. At present, the Yiyang-Changde Capacity Expansion Project is advancing rapidly, with breakthroughs achieved at multiple key nodes. The project is scheduled to be completed in September 2025.

　　It is understood that the Yiyang-Changde Expressway Capacity Expansion Project is an important component of the Changsha-Changde North Line National Expressway (G5517) of the Erguang Expressway (G55) under the National Expressway Network Plan (2013-2030). The route starts at the Bijianshan Interchange of the Changsha-Yiyang Expressway Capacity Expansion Line, bypasses the Yiyang urban planning area from the north, crosses the Zishui River, intersects with the Nanyi Expressway on the south side of Bailuqiao, then extends westward through Longtanqiao Town and south of Hanshou County seat, runs parallel for a section on the north side of the Yuchangxia Railway at Xinxing and crosses the Yuanshui River, and finally terminates at the Ludishan Interchange connecting to the Erguang Expressway (Changde East Ring Road). The total length is 93.5 kilometers, with 9 interchanges. The main line is built to a two-way, six-lane expressway standard, with a subgrade width of 34 meters and a design speed of 120 kilometers per hour.

　　The route lies in the core zone of the "Changsha-Yiyang-Changde-Zhangjiajie" economic corridor within the "One Belt, Two Corridors" regional development strategic framework of Hunan Province. It is an important expressway corridor from the Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan area to Zhangjiajie and Jishou, and also an important component of the expressway network of the Poyang-Dongting Economic Circle. The construction of this project is of great significance for implementing the Party Central Committee's strategy of accelerating the development of the western region, maintaining good traffic conditions on the western corridor from Changsha to Chongqing, and strengthening economic and trade exchanges between the western region and the eastern, central, and inland provinces.