By Tang Xiaofeng

On 18 May morning, Haitai cross Yangtze River channel local supporting project construction mobilization conference was held in Haimen, which was a sign that Haitai cross Yangtze River channel project entered substantive construction preparation stage.

Haitai cross Yangtze River channel is a major highway and railway cross Yangtze River channel before 2025. The project starts from Nantong Haimen Shanghai-Shanxi Expressway, ends at Suzhou Taicang Shanghai-Wuhan Expressway. It is built with the standard of two way six lane expressway. The length is about 39.2 km. The length of the cross river tunnel is about 11.2 km. Haitai cross Yangtze River channel is the longest underwater TBM tunnel of largest cross section area in China, can be called ‘the first tunnel of the Yangtze River’.

As an important part of Tongchang expressway and Ru-Tong-Su-Hu railway, and the 5th channel of Nantong ‘8 dragons cross the river’ plan application, Haitai cross Yangtze River channel is of great significance to acceleration of cross river integrated development of Nantong.