Fifteen transport trucks delivered prepared asphalt to the site, where dozens of workers aided the process by shoveling in sync. Monitoring personnel ensured the temperature of the asphalt was kept at optimal levels for hot mix and paving, while two pavers spread the asphalt and rollers followed closely to compact the freshly laid base layer...

On the morning of the 28th, at the construction site in Tingkou Village, Tianmushan Town, the trial paving of the asphalt layer for the reconstruction project of the Linglong to Yuqian section of National Highway 329 officially began. The road workers and machine operators coordinated efficiently to initiate this phase. Simultaneously, the right tunnel of the Houzhu Tunnel (from Lin’an to Yuqian) was successfully completed recently. The successful completion of these two critical control points signifies that the reconstruction project of the Linglong to Yuqian section of National Highway 329 has entered the final sprint phase.

The project’s orderly progress into the final stages is a result of the time gained from overcoming previous challenges. “Earlier this year, when the left tunnel of the Houzhu Tunnel (from Yuqian to Lin’an) was completed, the right tunnel (from Lin’an to Yuqian) was also being accelerated,” said Wan Lida, the project leader from Hangzhou Communications Investment and Construction Management Group Co., Ltd. “Unlike the left tunnel, the right tunnel’s construction was more complex due to the shallow buried section, which was only 2 to 4 meters deep, increasing the difficulty.” Despite unchanged schedules and increased complexity, the project construction actively responded to Lin’an’s “Five-Year” Initiative. Coordinated efforts and multi-shift operations among the construction parties have accelerated the project’s progress.

Currently, the asphalt paving has started, marking the project’s entry into the final phase of road construction. “The asphalt paving consists of three layers. Today, we are conducting the trial paving of the base layer on a 240-meter section,” explained Wan Lida. With this trial section underway, the entire project will soon enter large-scale asphalt paving, expected to be completed by October this year.

The project begins at the Linglong interchange of the Hangzhou-Huangshan Expressway, passing through Linglong Sub-district, Tianmushan Town, and Yuqian Town, and ends at Fangyuan Village in Yuqian Town. The estimated total investment is 5.907 billion yuan, covering a total length of 31.5 kilometers with 32 bridges and 2 tunnels. Once completed, it will significantly enhance the connectivity between the central and western regions of Lin’an and the eastern urban areas. This project is crucial for promoting high-quality economic development, optimizing industrial layout, integrating urban and rural areas, and increasing the prosperity and income of urban and rural residents along the route.

“In the project’s reasonable planning scope, we have considered the convenience of urban and rural residents’ travel needs by reducing the number of traffic lights and adding entrances and exits connecting central towns in Lin’an to improve commuting efficiency. For example, the Tianmushan Town section alone has five entrances and exits.” said Wan Lida. The completed project, featuring a six-lane road, is expected to handle a daily traffic volume of over 3,000 vehicles, significantly alleviating traffic pressure on the Hangzhou-Huangshan Expressway during holidays.

The reconstruction project of the Linglong to Yuqian section of National Highway 329 is a critical initiative by the district committee and government to promote regional coordinated development through significant improvements in transportation. It is foundational, pioneering, and strategic in advancing common prosperity. As the project progresses into large-scale asphalt paving, auxiliary works such as traffic safety measures, landscaping, and electrical systems will be carried out simultaneously. The Guanshan Tunnel is expected to be completed by the end of July, with traffic safety and electrical system installations finished by November. The entire project is scheduled to be completed and open to traffic by December.