(ECNS) — A key section of the China-Myanmar-Indian Ocean New Corridor -- the Lincang-Qingshuihe Expressway in southwest China's Yunnan Province -- opened to traffic on Monday, cutting travel time between downtown Lincang and the China-Myanmar border checkpoint at Qingshuihe from four hours to about 1.5 hours.
Stretching approximately 156 kilometers, the expressway was invested in 24.563 billion yuan (about $3.36 billion). It starts from Jiuzhai in the eastern part of Linxiang District, Lincang City, and ends at the Qingshuihe border checkpoint. Designed as a four-lane expressway, the route comprises 77 bridges and 17 tunnels, with these structures accounting for 49.3 percent of its total length.
Located at China's southwestern frontier, Lincang has historically been an important node along the ancient Southern Silk Road. The Qingshuihe border checkpoint, situated in Mengding Town of Gengma County under Lincang's jurisdiction, is a national first-class port and serves as the closest land route from China to Myanmar's Kyaukpyu Port and Yangon Port.
It took eight years to complete the construction of the Lincang-Qingshuihe Expressway due to complex geological conditions. It is expected to boost economic development in the China-Myanmar border areas and further enhance connectivity between China and South and Southeast Asian countries.
(By Evelyn)
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