The Hezhuo-Bama Expressway has fully concluded construction and opened to traffic on June 30.

The Hezhou-Bama Expressway is an important part of Guangxi's highway network, as it connects east, central and west Guangxi. Starting from Hezhou at the border of Guangdong and Guangxi, it passes through seven cities, namely Hezhou, Guilin, Wuzhou, Laibin, Liuzhou, Nanning, and Hechi; and 14 counties, including Hechi's Du'an, Dahua, and Bama.

The project, with a total length of 480 kilometers and an investment of around 67 billion yuan ($9 billion), started construction at the end of 2016. The construction was divided into six segments, including Zhongshan to Zhaoping, Zhaoping to Mengshan, Mengshan to Xiangzhou, Xiangzhou to Laibin, Laibin to Du'an, and Du'an to Bama. The project was funded and built by Guangxi Xinfazhan Construction Group, a subsidiary of Guangxi Beibu Gulf Investment Group.

The Laibin to Du'an section of the Hezhou-Bama Expressway. [Photo/Hechi Daily]

The Hezhou-Bama Expressway connects the four Yao autonomous counties of Du'an, Dahua, Bama, and Jinxiu. In the Hechi segment, the travel time from Laibin to Du'an has been reduced from 2.5 to 1.5 hours. Additionally, the travel time from Du'an to Bama has been reduced from 3 to 1.5 hours.

The full opening of the Hezhou-Bama Expressway will create a convenient highway link between Hezhou, Guilin, Wuzhou, Laibin, Liuzhou, Nanning, and Hechi. It will also shorten the transportation time between Guangxi and coastal areas in southeastern China, as well as contribute to the Guangxi's open-up measures.