An M-shaped motorway in China was said to be the “most difficult” road in the world to build – costing a staggering £2.6billion to produce.
The Yaxi Expressway, a section of the Beijing-Kunming highway, is a 149-mile long road that ascends 7.5 metres.
Made up of 270 viaducts and 25 tunnels, it runs from Ya’an to Xichang, Sichuan province. The project was started by the government in 2007, finally completing in April 2012.
It was hoped the road would improve the impact on the environment, with spiral tunnels used to reduce the effect on mountains.
This road has often been dubbed one of the most difficult to build in the world due to a number of complications.
The geographical conditions in Sichuan made it hard for construction workers to complete the project, with more than half of the tunnels and viaducts travelling through mountains.
Tall mountains make this spot popular with visitors looking to experience some of China’s natural beauty.
During the five-year project, construction engineers and workers had to overcome gas, water sprouting, faults and rocks bursting.
The Ganhaizi and Tiezhaizi dual spiral tunnels were one of the world’s first of its kind with small radiuses. Nibashan tunnel is the deepest tunnel in China, with a depth of 1,650 meters and a length of 9,962 meters on the left line and 10,007 on the right line.
But despite being difficult to build, the expressway has a number of benefits. It improves Sichuan’s access to South and North China.
It was also hoped the road would play a role in helping millions of Tibetan, Han, Yi and Hui people out of poverty, by supporting sustainable local economic growth in western Sichuan, an area rich in natural resources.
Thousands of tourists and residents visit this road to explore the picturesque route on offer, with mountains lining the impressive road.
