Recently, 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 comprehensive sprint phase. As of February 27, the tunnel's pilot heading has completed 94% of the total excavation task, laying a solid foundation for achieving the goal of full tunnel breakthrough this year.

　　The Tianshan Shengli Tunnel, with a total length of 22.1 kilometers, crosses the Tianshan Mountains and is the world's longest expressway tunnel under construction. With an average altitude of 3,000 meters and 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 constructed by the drill-and-blast method, while the middle pilot heading is driven in opposite directions using an innovative "TBM hard rock boring machine," achieving "long tunnel, short driving" 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.

　　After the tunnel breakthrough, driving across 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 Xinjiang's core area of the Silk Road Economic Belt, promoting economic development of northern and southern Xinjiang, and developing regional advantages.