New expressway to halve travel time between Xiangyang and Yichang
2026-06-07 19:06:46
By Yan Wanqin.
The Baduhe Bridge, the first major bridge on the Xiangyang section of the Pingdingshan-Yichang Expressway, was connected on June 4, marking a key step toward cutting travel time between Xiangyang and Yichang in half.
The 517-meter bridge features 17 spans and incorporates 132 precast 30-meter box girders. Despite challenging site conditions, the construction team completed all girder installations within two months of the first placement on April 7.
The Baduhe Bridge, the first major bridge on the Xiangyang section of the Pingdingshan-Yichang Expressway, was connected on June 4, marking a key step toward cutting travel time between Xiangyang and Yichang in half.
The 517-meter bridge features 17 spans and incorporates 132 precast 30-meter box girders. Despite challenging site conditions, the construction team completed all girder installations within two months of the first placement on April 7.
Baduhe Bridge on the Xiangyang section of the Pingdingshan-Yichang Expressway. Photo from Xiangyang Media Center.The 55.7-km Xiangyang section of the Pingdingshan-Yichang Expressway starts at Fangjiaji on the Macheng-Ankang Expressway and ends at the junction with the Yichang section. Built as a four-lane expressway with a design speed of 100 km/h, the route is expected to reduce travel time between Xiangyang and Yichang from 3 hours to 1.5 hours.
Construction is also progressing on other key structures, including steel box girder installation at the Fangjiaji Interchange, main bridge construction at Yuntaishan Reservoir, and T-beam production for several major bridges.
So far, 53 percent of the annual construction plan for the Xiangyang section has been completed, accounting for 57.8 percent of total project investment. Half of the roadbed work has been finished, along with 45 percent of bridge (culvert) construction and 16 percent of tunnel work.
