Yichang transportation investment hits record in H1

Yichang achieved record highs in both the scale and growth rate of transportation fixed-asset investment in the first half of 2026.

The city completed 26.2 billion yuan (US$3.86 billion) in comprehensive transportation fixed-asset investment from January to June, according to the Yichang Transportation Bureau. The figure represents a year-on-year increase of 21.6 percent and accounts for 62 percent of the annual investment target.

Capitalizing on the construction of the Three Gorges New Waterway Project, Yichang has launched a series of initiatives to upgrade its comprehensive transportation network. The city is coordinating the development of highway, waterway, railway, and aviation projects to optimize its integrated transportation system and supporting infrastructure.

On-site pouring of the first pile foundation at Letianxi Temporary Wharf.
Photo by Chen Kun

Construction has begun on the Huangbai River waterway upgrading project, the Xiaoting Vessel Waiting Service Area, and the Yaojiagang Liquid Chemical Terminal in Zhijiang.

To support the on-going Three Gorges New Waterway Project, construction of the temporary Gezhouba Wharf is being accelerated, while foundation work is progressing at the Zhaojiagou Temporary Wharf.

Other key projects include the refined oil transshipment terminal on the southern bank of the Three Gorges Hub, the Sankouyan Bulk Cargo Terminal in Changyang, and the Qinglin Temple Tourism Terminal in Yidu.

Highway construction has maintained strong momentum. In the first six months, Yichang’s expressway investment reached 11.22 billion yuan, the highest among all prefecture-level cities in Hubei Province. Eight expressways and three Yangtze River bridges are under construction.

The Dangyang section of the Dangzhi-Songzi Expressway project has entered the final finishing phase.

The surface of the Zhijiang Yangtze River Bridge on the Dangyang-Zhijiang-Songzi Expressway has been closed. Full-scale construction is underway on the Yichang-Laifeng Expressway, which is scheduled to open to traffic in the second half of the year.

Excavation of the ultra-long Changbanpo Tunnel on the Xiangyang-Yichang Expressway has exceeded 80 percent.

Land acquisition and demolition work has surpassed 50 percent for the Yichang section of the Shanghai-Chongqing Expressway and the Jingmen-Yichang section of the Wuhan-Chongqing Expressway.

Pile foundation construction for the main towers of the Shazhenxi Yangtze River Bridge on the Xingshan-Changyang section of the Shiyan-Yichang Expressway has been completed.

Concrete pouring for the right abutment cap is underway on the north bank of the Nanjinguan Yangtze River Bridge. Photo by Tanyang Chenlei, Ma Lin

Rural transportation infrastructure has also seen significant improvements. In the first half of the year, Yichang built or upgraded 597.7 kilometers of rural roads and constructed 19 rural road bridges, further improving travel conditions in rural areas.

Railway and aviation support projects are also advancing.

Full-line construction continues on the Yichang-Fuling High-Speed Railway, with in-air construction operations underway on the main towers of the Yichang rail-cum-road Yangtze River Bridge.

Construction has begun along the entire Yichang-Changde High-Speed Railway, while the Yichang-Xingshan High-Speed Railway is expected to open soon.

Working with the Sanxia Aviation Industrial Park, Sanxia International Airport is upgrading freight supporting facilities and expanding air cargo capacity, steadily building itself into a modern comprehensive regional aviation hub.

Jin Zhi, Wang Yinhuan also contributed to this story