On June 30, the G4218 Ya'an-Yecheng National Expressway Lhasa-Shigatse Airport section project was completed and opened to traffic, with a total length of 167 kilometers, marking the opening of the high-grade highway from Lhasa to Shigatse, and the driving time between the two cities was shortened to about 3 hours compared with the previous national highway G318. So far, the total mileage of Tibet's high-grade highways has reached 1,196 kilometers. The opening ceremony was held at noon on the same day in the Chabala service area of the high-grade highway from Lhasa to Shigatse.
The total length of high-grade highways from Lhasa to Shigatse is 245 kilometers. Among them, the Lhasa-Gonggar Airport Highway was opened to traffic in July 2011, with a total length of 38 kilometers, which is the first high-grade highway in the Tibet Autonomous Region, with a design speed of 80 km/h; The first-class highway from Shigatse Airport to Shigatse City was opened to traffic in September 2017, with a total length of 40 kilometers and a design speed of 100 km/h.
The section from Lhasa to Shigatse Airport opened to traffic is a highway, which is one of the key construction projects of Tibet highway transportation during the 13th Five-Year Plan, with two-way four lanes and a design speed of 100 km/h, which will be implemented in two phases:
The first phase is a control project, located at both ends of the whole line, with a total length of 76 kilometers, and started on March 10, 2019. Among them, the starting and ending point of the Lhasa section of the control project is from Xierong Village, Qushui County, Lhasa City to the Chabala Service Area, with a total length of 41 kilometers, which will be opened to traffic for trial operation on February 1, 2021; The starting and ending point of the control project of the Shigatse section is the expressway from Dazhuka Village, Lianxiang, Sangzhuzi District, Shigatse City to Shigatse Airport, with a total length of 35 kilometers, which was opened to traffic for trial operation on November 27, 2021.
The second phase is a tough project, located in the middle of the whole line, with a total length of 91 kilometers, starting and ending from the Chabala service area of Qushui County, Lhasa City to Dazhuka Village, Sangzhuzi District, Shigatse City, which started on June 20, 2020, the line crosses the Brahmaputra River, and runs parallel to the Lari Railway and National Highway 318.
Because the Lhasa-Shigatse Airport section is located in the "three highs area" of high altitude, high cold and high seismic intensity, the line from the narrow part of the Yarlung Zangbo River valley is faced with many unfavorable geological and climatic conditions such as deep canyons, complex geology, and disastrous weather, and the construction is extremely difficult. In the construction process, the construction unit vigorously promotes scientific, standardized and information-based management, and widely applies advanced technology, equipment and technology, especially in the construction process of the Lhasa-Shigatse airport section project, which has carried out scientific research topics such as "Research on Key Technologies for the Construction of Weathering I-beam Composite Beam Decks in Tibet", "Research on the Integrated Design of Pavement Construction and Maintenance Based on the Whole Life Cycle in High Altitude and Cold Areas", "Research on Key Technologies for Improving the Concrete Quality of Bridges and Tunnels in Low Humidity and Large Temperature Difference Areas" and other scientific research projects. The transformation and application of research results effectively guarantees the progress, quality, safety and environmental protection of the project. After more than five years of continuous struggle, the builders worked day and night to overcome difficulties, and the project was completed on schedule.
The full connection of the high-grade highway from Lhasa to Shigatse will greatly promote the economic and social development along the route and in the region. First, it has effectively improved the level of high-grade highway infrastructure construction in high-altitude and alpine areas of the mainland, and contributed to the construction of Tibet as a transportation power. Second, the highway network between Tibet and the country has been optimized and improved, and the capacity, safety and transportation service level of the rapid transport corridor from Lhasa to Shigatse and Ali Prefecture have been further improved. Third, people inside and outside the region will travel faster and safer, and a comprehensive three-dimensional transportation network of "five cities and three hours economic circle" centered on Lhasa City will be further formed. Fourth, it has promoted the construction of an important channel for Tibet's opening up to South Asia, strengthened the ties between the mainland and Nepal and other neighboring countries and regions, improved the level of opening up, and played a greater role in the joint construction of the "Belt and Road". Fifth, it has further ensured the stability and long-term peace and stability of the motherland's southwestern frontier.
Source: Guangming Daily