The last section of the Beijing-Urumqi Expressway in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region opens to traffic on June 30. [Photo/Xinhua]
The Beijing-Urumqi Expressway fully opened to traffic as its section in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region was put into operation on June 30.
Linking Beijing and Urumqi, capital city of Xinjiang, the expressway has a total length of 2,800 kilometers, passing through some provincial-level regions in North and Northest of China, including Hebei, Shanxi, Inner Mongolia and Gansu in the North and Northwest of China.
The project was completed ahead of schedule despite severe environmental conditions like high temperature, extreme cold and sandstorms.
Environmental protection and regional economic growth were also of concern during construction.
Chief designer of the expressway Wang Xiaozhi said that 62 passages were arranged for animal migration.
The second 24/7 in-service highway to connect Xinjiang and other regions after the Lianyungang-Horgos Expressway, the Beijing-Urumqi Expressway links Horgos Port in Xinjiang with Tianjin Port, which will support development of the Belt and Road Initiative.
China Railway Construction Corporation Limited contributed to building of the expressway.
A view of a section of the Beijing-Urumqi Expressway that runs through the desert [Photo/Xinhua]
(Executive editor: Niu Yilin)
