Recently, the preliminary waterborne survey for the Suzhou-Nantong Second River Crossing was successfully completed, marking another key step forward in the project's construction. The Suzhou-Nantong Second River Crossing starts at National Highway 204 in Changshu City, Suzhou, and ends in the main urban area of Nantong City, with a designed total length of approximately 43 kilometers, of which the river-crossing section is 10.5 kilometers. Its main navigation channel bridge adopts a cable-stayed suspension cooperative system scheme with a main span of 2,300 meters, making it the world's largest-span bridge currently under research and development. The project is massive in scale and is a world-class mega project.

Recently, a netizen inquired on Hanshan Wenzhong: According to reports from the Suzhou transportation authorities, in August 2023, the first phase of the Suzhou Bay Tunnel project began construction. The trial bored cast-in-place pile is located outside the foundation pit on the west side of Provincial Highway S230 in Construction Section 2, and is being constructed by Suzhou Communications Group. The trial pile selected is a representative retaining pile, with a designed pile length of 21 meters, a pile diameter of 1 meter, and a designed concrete volume of 16.485 cubic meters... May I ask, what is the specific progress of construction, and when is it expected to open to traffic? In response, the implementing unit Suzhou Communications Investment Construction Management Co., Ltd. recently replied: Dear netizen, hello! The Suzhou Bay Tunnel is an important node involving East Taihu Lake on the proposed realignment section of National Highway 635, and is also an important component of Suzhou's "Greater Middle Ring." The construction of the project can improve the regional comprehensive transportation network, clear traffic bottlenecks across East Taihu Lake, and promote the development of the "Taihu Lake Rim Science and Technology Innovation Circle" and the "Wusong River Science and Technology Innovation Belt." Because it involves the Taihu Lake national-level ecological red line and the East Taihu Lake water function protection zone, the scheme study and environmental impact assessment are currently being prudently advanced. Thank you for your concern and understanding!

The implementing unit Suzhou Urban Investment Infrastructure Development Co., Ltd. replied: Respected citizen: We have received your message regarding "How is the East Taihu Lake Tunnel progressing?" This request falls within the scope of the East Taihu Lake Tunnel project. The project is being advanced in an orderly manner. Thank you for your concern for and support of urban construction.

In addition, the Wangshan Road project, which serves as the East Taihu Lake connecting line, is currently actively carrying out preliminary procedures and construction preparation. Construction will be organized immediately once conditions are met. The design scheme for the intersection of Wangshan Road and Tian'edang Road is as follows: the main elevated line runs from north to south, crosses over Tian'edang Road, and then a pair of ramps is set to descend to ground level; the ground auxiliary road intersects Tian'edang Road at grade. During the construction of Wangshan Road, portal openings will be set up to maintain traffic flow on Tian'edang Road.