Xinjiang to complete expressways linking 15 cities in 2018

Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in northwestern China will complete its network of expressways to link all 15 prefectures and cities in the region by the end of 2018. In addition, the region will improve 15,000 kilometers of rural roads, according to officials from the Transport Department of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in northwestern China will complete its network of expressways to link all 15 prefectures and cities in the region by the end of 2018. [Photo/VCG]

During 2018, Xijiang plans to spend 49 billion yuan (US$7.6 billion) on building 772 kilometers of national and regional highways and 224 kilometers of new expressways, officials said.

To better serve as the transportation hub on the Silk Road Economic Belt, Xinjiang will improve key highway crossing points in border areas connecting to Pakistan, Tajikistan, Mongolia and Kyrgyzstan. The region will also put a group of passenger and freight transport stations into operation.

Meanwhile, Xinjiang will speed up road construction in poor areas and step up support for poverty reduction by developing local industries and facilitating rural people to take non-agricultural jobs.

In 2017, Xinjiang spent 201.5 billion yuan on road construction. The total length of roads in Xinjiang has so far reached 186,000 kilometers, with 4,578 kilometers of expressways connecting with 14 prefectures and cities in the region.