Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, northwest
China, will see 657 km of new highways during the 11th Five-Year Plan period (2006-2010), local
sources said.
Construction has started on two highways that will be included
in the east-west trunk road, which starts from Lianyungang, a port
city on China's east coast, and ends at Horgos, a customs post on
the border with Kazakhstan, according to the regional bureau of
communications.
The costs of the two highways, totaling 307 km, will be shared
by the central government and Xinjiang autonomous regional
government.
They will cover the Xingxingxia-Turpan and Sayram Lake-Horgos
sections of the Lianyungang-Horgos highway.
Other new highways will include the link between Korla and Kuqa,
both in the northern Tarim Basin, southern Xinjiang, and the
expressway between the Qingshui River and Yining, a city near
Kazakhstan border.
Xinjiang, which covers a sixth of China, is the largest Chinese
region in terms of landmass and is known for its unique
landscapes.
However, due to a lack of highways, travel in this remote region
is difficult. The construction is expect to open up Xinjiang's
hinterlands.
The region already has 541 km of highways, according to the
regional bureau of communications.
(Xinhua News Agency January 4, 2007)