Major progress has been reported on the G3033 Kuitun-Dushanzi-Kuqa Expressway, commonly referred to as the Kuiduku Expressway, as construction crews accelerate efforts during the peak building season. The southern section of the project has now entered full-scale construction, laying a solid foundation for meeting this year's ambitious targets.
As of August 27th, at the earthwork site of the seventh civil construction tender section, workers were using dump trucks to transport fill material to designated zones, where loader operators spread it evenly across the roadbed. Nearby, at the slope protection works, crews poured concrete into moulds, forming the characteristic arched skeleton structures that will safeguard the embankments.
A representative from Sichuan Road and Bridge Group, the contractor responsible for the seventh tender section, noted that the section spans 46.404 kilometres in length, with significant progress already achieved on roadbed, bridge, and culvert works. The focus now shifts to accelerating remaining tasks to ensure a strong start for pavement works planned for next year.
According to a deputy commander from Xinjiang Communications Investment's Duku Expressway subsidiary, the expressway crosses the Tianshan Mountains over a substantial distance. To optimise management and construction efficiency, the project has been divided into northern, central, and southern segments. The southern segment extends 98 kilometres and, due to its climate advantages, commenced site operations earlier in the season. Bridge, tunnel, and roadbed construction are now progressing simultaneously across all fronts as teams push to complete annual targets ahead of schedule.
The 6.7-kilometre Berlebokzi Tunnel stands as one of the critical control projects on the southern section. At the tunnel's exit portal, advanced drilling rigs have been mobilised, with operators skillfully boring deep anchors into the mountain face. Meanwhile, the steel fabrication centre operates with precision, using automated conveyor lines to sort raw materials, complete welding processes, and stack finished products. All essential components for tunnel construction, including advance support pipes, steel arches, and mesh reinforcement, are produced at this facility.
To boost efficiency at the Berlebokzi Tunnel, engineers have innovatively implemented a "5+15" fully automated intelligent construction system. This approach utilises five automated production lines dedicated to manufacturing steel arches and mesh components, complemented by fifteen sets of smart equipment managing the complete sequence of excavation, support installation, lining placement, and curing processes. A technical director from CCCC First Highway Engineering Bureau reported that intelligent machinery is being gradually assembled and brought online, with tunnel excavation on both the left and right tubes each exceeding 200 metres. Construction teams are working diligently towards achieving a breakthrough as soon as possible.
The Kuiduku Expressway stretches 393 kilometres from Kuitun City in the north to Kuqa City in the south. It is being constructed to dual four-lane expressway standards with a planned construction period of seven years. Once completed, the route will enable year-round, uninterrupted travel between Kuitun and Kuqa, dramatically cutting travel time from the current ten-plus hours to an estimated four hours.