Recently, construction on the Tianshan Shengli Tunnel project of the Urumqi–Yuli Expressway (G0711) in Xinjiang has seized the spring construction "golden period," working at full capacity and entering a stage of all-out sprint. As of February 27, the tunnel's pilot heading (center drift) had completed 94% of its total excavation task, laying a solid foundation for achieving the goal of full tunnel breakthrough this year.

　　With a total length of 22.1 kilometers, the Tianshan Shengli Tunnel passes through the Tianshan Mountains and is the world's longest expressway tunnel under construction. At an average altitude of 3,000 meters and with minimum temperatures reaching minus 40 degrees Celsius, it is a typical high-cold, high-altitude highway tunnel.

　　The tunnel adopts the "three tunnels plus four shafts" construction method: the left and right main tunnels are excavated by the drill-and-blast method, while the central pilot heading is driven in opposite directions using an innovative "TBM hard-rock tunnel boring machine," achieving "long tunnel, short drive" and greatly shortening the construction period. This technology is also being applied for the first time in domestic expressway tunnel construction. During construction, the project team has consistently overcome difficulties and obstacles, pressing forward into the depths of the Tianshan Mountains.

　　Once the tunnel is completed, driving through the Tianshan Mountains will take only about 20 minutes. Travel between Urumqi and Korla will no longer require "crossing the Tianshan Mountains," and driving time will be shortened from 7 hours to about 3 hours, which is of great significance for advancing the construction of the core area of the Silk Road Economic Belt in Xinjiang and for promoting economic development and regional advantage exploitation in northern and southern Xinjiang.