On January 11, reporters learned from the 2024 Xinjiang Transportation Work Conference that in 2024, Xinjiang plans to complete more than 68.5 billion yuan in investment in highway transportation infrastructure, with the total mileage of expressways to exceed 7,800 kilometers, the proportion of counties and cities across Xinjiang connected by expressways to reach 94.4%, the expressway coverage rate of 3A-level and above scenic areas to reach 95%, the service area quality compliance rate to reach 100%, and the proportion of rural areas connected by third-class and above highways to reach 90.4%.

Conference site

"In 2024, Xinjiang's transportation departments will closely focus on the construction of the Silk Road Economic Belt core area, the Xinjiang Pilot Free Trade Zone, and the 'eight major industrial clusters,' solidly advance transportation investment and construction, expand high-level opening-up, and strive to build high-quality transportation infrastructure, international road transport, and travel service guarantee systems," said Xirali Waili, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Director of the Autonomous Region Department of Transportation.

It is understood that this year, Xinjiang will increase project construction efforts, implement 63 highway construction projects, and accelerate the construction of 52 continuing projects including the G0711 Urumqi–Yuli Expressway, the G30 Xingxingxia–Tuyugou section expressway expansion and reconstruction, and the G218 Nalati–Baluntai project. Efforts will be made to complete 22 projects including the G217 Altay–Burqin project, and add four counties including Bohu and Burqin to the expressway network. Within the year, the full completion of the middle pilot tunnel of the Tianshan Shengli Tunnel on the G0711 Urumqi–Yuli project will be achieved, and efforts will be made to achieve full completion of the main tunnel of the Tianshan Shengli Tunnel.

This year, Xinjiang will continue to increase project construction efforts, implementing 63 highway construction projects throughout the year, and accelerate the construction of 52 continuing projects including the G0711 Urumqi–Yuli Expressway, the G30 Xingxingxia–Tuyugou section expressway expansion and reconstruction, the G219 Zhaosu–Wensu project, and the G218 Balati–Baluntai project. It will complete 1,200 kilometers of newly built and reconstructed national and provincial trunk highways of second class and above, strive to complete 22 projects including the G217 Altay–Burqin project, fully complete the Urumqi Ring Expressway, and add four counties including Bohu, Burqin, Habahe, and Jeminay to the expressway (first-class highway) network.

This year, the whole of Xinjiang plans to complete 8 billion yuan in investment in rural road construction, build and reconstruct 5,500 kilometers of rural roads, and add one township connected by third-class and above highways and 30 relatively large-population natural villages (groups) connected by hardened roads.

Xinjiang will continue to expand high-level opening-up and build a high-quality international road transport system. It will actively advance preliminary work on projects such as the Bedel Pass highway and boundary river bridge, and the Irkeshtam Pass boundary river bridge. It will complete the G216 Hongshanzui–Altay and S319 Burqin–Jeminay Pass highways, and achieve simple and smooth traffic on the Bedel Pass highway. It will accelerate the construction of projects such as the G315 Tuopa–Turugart Pass highway. It will make every effort to ensure the connection between national and provincial trunk roads and roads in the Pilot Free Trade Zone. It will explore the development of direct China-Europe road transport and promote the opening and operation of international road transport along Asian Highway Network Route 4 among China, Mongolia, and Russia. It will enhance the intelligent regulatory service capacity of international road transport at ports, fully implement advance declaration for import and export port approvals and 24-hour online appointment services, and improve the level of facilitation of customs clearance for international road transport.

Xirali Waili stated that Xinjiang's transportation departments will firmly grasp the position and role of transportation in the high-quality development of the autonomous region, and provide transportation guarantees for better building a beautiful Xinjiang.