Xinjiang tunnel project progressing smoothly

Road construction manager Li Xiaoming arrived in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region 18 months ago to help oversee the excavation of a tunnel through the snow-capped Tianshan Mountains. Since then, he has faced flooding, communication blackouts and sleepless nights in bone-chilling temperatures below — 20 C.

Yet, Li said the hardships are worthwhile. The 15.7-kilometer West Tianshan Super-Long Tunnel, part of an expressway connecting southern and northern Xinjiang, is progressing as planned.

"We are working toward the goal of breaking through around July of 2026 and completing supporting facilities in the following months," Li said. "The tunnel's success will be critical for the entire expressway to begin operations by late October 2027."