China Commences Construction on Historic Three Gorges Waterway Project- Chinese media
On Monday, China officially commenced construction on a monumental waterway project designed to address the surging shipping demand along the Yangtze River, the third-longest river in the world, reported Chinese media Central to this ambitious initiative is the development of what is anticipated to become the world’s largest inland ship lock, a critical infrastructure enhancement aimed at significantly boosting the river’s cargo handling capacity.
The groundbreaking ceremony for the Three Gorges new waterway project took place in Yichang, located in central China’s Hubei Province. The event was led by Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, who is also a prominent member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee. His presence underscored the strategic importance of the project at both regional and national levels.
Valued at 77.2 billion yuan (approximately $11.3 billion), the project involves the construction of a five-tier, dual-track ship lock positioned to the north of the existing lock at the Three Gorges Dam. This dam is already renowned as the world’s largest water conservancy project. In addition to the new lock, the project includes comprehensive upgrades to navigation facilities at a smaller dam downstream, further enhancing the efficiency and safety of river transport.
Upon completion, the new infrastructure is expected to nearly double the annual throughput capacity of the Three Gorges area, increasing it to an impressive 336 million tonnes. This expansion will play a vital role in supporting China’s growing inland shipping industry and facilitating smoother, higher-volume cargo movement along the Yangtze.
According to Niu Xinqiang, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, the project is poised to set multiple world records in inland ship lock construction. These records will span navigable vessel dimensions, chamber size, and the scale of earthwork excavation, highlighting the engineering marvel and scale of this undertaking.
Overall, the Three Gorges new waterway project represents a landmark advancement in China’s waterway infrastructure, reflecting China's commitment to modernizing its transport networks and sustaining economic growth through enhanced logistical capabilities.
