Tibet invests forty billion yuan on road improvement
The launch ceremony for the first round of major transportation projects in Tibet Autonomous Region was held on April 6th. The projects include the renovation of Lhasa Gonggar Airport road to Zêtang, renovation of the Shigatse Airport road to Shigatse City, and rehabilitation projects for roads damaged after the Nepal earthquake on April 25, 2015. The Tibet Autonomous Region aims to utilize all of the 40 billion yuan invested in transportation this year.
The rehabilitation projects for roads damaged after the 4/25 earthquake (phase 1) include five roads: national road 216 (from Kongtangla-Gyirong), the Gyirong-Resuo Road, national road 219 (from Kongtangla to 60 road maintenance squad), national road 318 (from Lhatse to Yalai), and the road from Yalai to Friendship Bridge. All of the projects will use a level-three standard repair for roads, the level-four standard will be used for more challenging portions, and the projects will take about 15 months.
The Gonggar Airport road to Zêtang will be built toward the east, toward the north coast of the Yarlung Tsangpo River, and has a total distance of 89.869 km. The entire route will use a two-direction, four-lane, level-one road standard, and be designed for travel at 100km/hr. Total project duration is 24 months, and is expected to be completed in 2018.
The Shigatse Airport road to Shigatse City will be a total of 40.404 km (not including break-off portions). The main road will use a two-direction, four-lane, level-one standard, and allow for travel at 100km/hr. The Bainang line will be built with a level-two standard and designed for travel at 80 km/hr. The Shigatse line will be built with a level-two standard and allow for travel at 80 km/hr.