Subgrade finished for new road crossing China's largest desert

URUMQI -- The subgrade of a new road crossing the Taklimakan Desert has been finished, paving the way for improved transport and economic growth in the regions around China's largest desert.

The road is located in south Xinjiang's Bayingolin Mongolian autonomous prefecture, connecting Yuli and Qiemo counties. It is the third road crossing the Taklimakan Desert, the world's second-largest shifting desert.

With a length of about 334 km, the road saw construction begin in October 2017, and is expected to be put into operation in 2021.

The harsh weather conditions and poor access to water, electricity, communication signals and daily supplies have made building a road across the hinterland of the desert a challenging task, said Wang Yunfei, project manager with China Communications Construction Company, the road's developer.

The construction teams have leveled 32 tall sand dunes, with one nearing 80 meters in height and taking almost half a year to level, Wang said.

The road will cut the distance between Qiemo county and the prefecture's capital city of Korla by roughly 350 km, lending steam to regional tourism development and economic growth.