Yuliangzhou Tunnel, the first road tunnel extending beneath Han River in Xiangyang City of central China’s Hubei Province, opens to traffic, Oct. 31, 2022. (Photo/China News Service)

Yuliangzhou Tunnel, the first road tunnel extending beneath Han River in Xiangyang City of central China’s Hubei Province, opened to traffic on Monday after four years of construction.

Built by the Second Aviation Administration of China Communications Construction, Yuliangzhou Tunnel provides a quick passage connecting Donjin New District and Fancheng District with a total length of 5.4 kilometers. It has six two-way lanes and a designated top speed of 60 kph.

The section that passes beneath Han River twice is 1,011 meters long, its eastern branch 660 meters long with six sections, and its western branch, 351 meters with four sections. It is the largest inland river tunnel in China.

The tunnel shortens the travel time between Donjin New District and Fancheng District from 45 minutes to 10 minutes.

It will become a traffic axis guiding the city to expand eastward.