On April 10, it was announced that in the first quarter of this year, Hubei’s expressways accumulated an investment of 32.06 billion yuan, accounting for 26.7% of the annual target, a year-on-year increase of 16.8%, placing it among the top performers nationally.

The first quarter saw a concentrated opening of expressways in Hubei: The expansion and renovation project of the Wuhan-Huangshi Expressway, hailed as the “Number One Road in Chu,” opened ahead of schedule. With eight lanes in both directions, its daily traffic capacity has surged to over 100,000 vehicles, helping to integrate Ezhou and Huangshi into Wuhan’s “one-hour commuting circle.” The expansion project of the Beijing-Hong Kong-Macao Expressway section from the Hubei-Henan border to Junshan also opened to traffic. The Shuangliu Yangtze River Bridge and its connecting road project, Hubei’s 40th and Wuhan’s 12th Yangtze River bridge, began trial operation, slashing the travel time between Xinzhou, Wuhan, and Huarong, Ezhou, from the previous 90 minutes to about 5 minutes. Furthermore, the Tianmen West section of the Wuhan-Chongqing Expressway, the first completed and opened expressway project among Hubei’s 27 key transportation projects, was also completed and opened.

This year marks the beginning of the 15th Five-Year Plan period. Focusing on accelerating the development of a pivotal hub, Hubei’s transportation authorities are intensively breaking through on key projects. Centered on the goal of 100 billion yuan in expressway investment and the quality enhancement and capacity expansion of the “Two Horizontal and Two Vertical” national expressway corridors, 44 ongoing projects and 16 expansion/renovation projects are being accelerated. Investment scale and the number of newly started projects have repeatedly hit new highs, maintaining a high level of operation. The construction site on the north bank of the Guanyinsi Yangtze River Bridge, the world’s largest span highway cable-stayed bridge, is bustling with activity. The project team is organizing scientifically and progressing steadily, having completed the adhesive segment assembly for 11 segments of the side-span concrete segmental girders; three steel box girder sections have been lifted, with steel beam welding and cable-stayed cable tensioning work proceeding simultaneously.

To solve common challenges encountered in project advancement, such as land use, forest use, and environmental impact assessments, Hubei’s transportation department has established mechanisms for “case-by-case deliberation,” list management, and tracking supervision. It promotes a model of “informed commitment + tolerance for missing materials during acceptance,” effectively shortening approval cycles and shifting the focus from “approval” to “service.” Simultaneously, it actively promotes parallel approvals, tolerance for missing materials in bidding, and other methods to raise funds through multiple channels, innovating investment and financing models to inject ample “financial blood” into major transportation infrastructure projects.

By 2026, Hubei Province plans to complete six projects including the second phase of the Ezhou Airport Expressway, the Yanji Yangtze River Bridge, and the Tongcheng to Xiushui Expressway, with a total length of 246 kilometers. It also plans to start construction on 10 new projects, including the expansion of the Fuzhou-Yinchuan Expressway Wuhan New City section, with a total length of 379 kilometers.

Wuhan-Huangshi Expressway

The Wuhan-Huangshi Expressway is a major transportation artery in Hubei Province, China, connecting the provincial capital of Wuhan with the industrial city of Huangshi. Opened to traffic in the early 1990s, it was one of the early expressways built in the region to facilitate economic development and integration within the Wuhan Metropolitan Area. It serves as a critical link for commerce, travel, and regional connectivity.

Beijing-Hong Kong-Macao Expressway

The Beijing-Hong Kong-Macao Expressway is a major north-south transportation artery in China, officially opened in 1996. It stretches approximately 2,285 kilometers, connecting the capital Beijing with key regions, including Hong Kong and Macao. Its construction was a significant infrastructure project aimed at boosting economic integration and development along its route.

Shuangliu Yangtze River Bridge

The Shuangliu Yangtze River Bridge is a major cable-stayed bridge in Chongqing, China, completed in 2009. It was built to improve transportation across the Yangtze River, connecting the Shuangliu area and supporting the region’s economic development. The bridge is a significant modern infrastructure project in the upper reaches of the Yangtze.

Wuhan-Chongqing Expressway

The Wuhan-Chongqing Expressway is a major transportation artery in central China, connecting the cities of Wuhan in Hubei province and Chongqing municipality. Its construction, completed in stages between the 1990s and 2010s, was a significant engineering feat that cut through the mountainous terrain of the Three Gorges region, dramatically reducing travel time and boosting economic integration in the area.

Guanyinsi Yangtze River Bridge

The Guanyinsi Yangtze River Bridge is a major cable-stayed bridge located in Nanjing, China, which opened to traffic in 2005. It was the first arch-supported cable-stayed bridge in the world and was constructed to alleviate traffic congestion across the Yangtze River, forming a critical part of the city’s ring road system. The bridge is named after the nearby historic Guanyin Temple.

Ezhou Airport Expressway

The Ezhou Airport Expressway is a modern transportation link in Hubei Province, China, constructed primarily to serve the new Ezhou Huahu Airport. It was built concurrently with the airport, which opened in 2022, to provide high-speed road access between the airport, the city of Ezhou, and the surrounding region, facilitating its role as a major international cargo and passenger hub.

Yanji Yangtze River Bridge

The Yanji Yangtze River Bridge is a major cable-stayed bridge crossing the Yangtze River in Jingzhou, Hubei province, China. It was opened to traffic in 2002 to improve regional connectivity, and its name commemorates the historical “Yanji” ferry that operated at the site for centuries.

Tongcheng to Xiushui Expressway

The Tongcheng to Xiushui Expressway is a modern highway in China’s Jiangxi Province, connecting the counties of Tongcheng and Xiushui. It was constructed to improve regional transportation, boost economic development, and facilitate travel in the mountainous area, with its history being part of China’s ongoing national expressway network expansion in the 21st century.