Recently, the Gansu Provincial Department of Transportation approved the construction drawing design and budget for the Hezuo to Sailerlong (Gansu-Qinghai border) section of the G1816 Wuhai to Maqin National Expressway, marking the completion of all design work for the project and important progress in its construction.

　　The main line of the Hezuo-Sailerlong project starts at the Hezuo South Interchange in Hezuo City, Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, connecting with the completed Linxia to Hezuo section of the Wuma Expressway, and ends at Sailerlong (Gansu-Qinghai border), connecting with the Sailerlong (Gansu-Qinghai border) to Henan section of the Wuma Expressway. The main line has a total length of 105.5 kilometers and adopts the technical standard of a two-way four-lane expressway, with a design speed of 100 kilometers per hour, an integrated subgrade width of 26 meters, and a separated subgrade width of 13 meters; the project also includes the construction of a 5.5-kilometer interchange connecting line to Xiahe Airport.

　　The Hezuo to Sailerlong (Gansu-Qinghai border) section of the G1816 Wuhai to Maqin National Expressway is a key project in the National Highway Network Plan (2013-2030) and the Gansu Province 14th Five-Year Comprehensive Transportation System Development Plan, and is also a major transportation project prioritized by the provincial Party committee and provincial government in 2024. The project is a new corridor opening up Gansu's development toward the southwest, and is also the supporting project for expressway access in Luqu County and Maqu County of Gannan Prefecture. Once completed, the project will further facilitate political, economic, cultural and other exchanges and cooperation among Gansu, Qinghai and Sichuan provinces.

　　The project is located in the upper reaches of the Yellow River, near the Sanjiangyuan region, and is a key area for high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin. The construction drawing approval explicitly requires that the project strengthen ecological and environmental protection during implementation, build a high-quality green highway, and promote the integration of high-quality highway development with ecological protection.