China's Xinjiang completes world's longest expressway tunnel through challenging mountains

The tunneling of the Tianshan Shengli Tunnel, the world's longest expressway tunnel, was completed Monday morning through the snow-covered mountains of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, marking a significant milestone in China's infrastructure development.

With its construction starting in 2020, the 22.13-kilometer tunnel, a landmark transportation project which is expected to turn China into a country with strong transport network and a key project along Urumqi-Yuli highway in the Tianshan Mountains, passes through a cold and high altitude zone with harsh climate and geological conditions.

Crossing Tianshan Mountains via National Highway 216 usually takes about three hours. With the completion of the Tianshan Shengli Tunnel, the journey time will be reduced to just 20 minutes.

The Tianshan Shengli Tunnel is located in a sparsely populated area of the Tianshan Mountains, with an average construction elevation of over 3,000 meters and crossing 16 fault zones.

Over the past four years, more than 3,000 construction workers have overcome various geological challenges and risks through significant breakthroughs in new technologies, processes, and equipment, setting a new record as the longest expressway tunnel in the world. This project has become another important milestone in global tunnel engineering.

"The Tianshan Shengli Tunnel has achieved significant breakthroughs in new technologies and equipment, setting a new record as the longest expressway tunnel in the world," said Zhou Rongfeng, head of the Highway Bureau at the Ministry of Transport.

As the tunnel has been drilled through, construction will proceed on the Tianshan Shengli Tunnel's pavement, electromechanical systems, landscaping, and other ancillary works, accelerating the overall progress of constructing the Urumqi-Yuli Expressway.

Upon its completion, the Urumqi-Yuli expressway will reduce the travel time between Urumqi and Korla from 7 hours to just 3 hours, cutting transportation costs by 15 percent.

The Urumqi-Yuli Expressway, spanning approximately 319.7 kilometers, is a key segment of the G0711 Urumqi-Ruoqiang Expressway. It traverses the Tianshan Mountains and serves as the most convenient and efficient route from Urumqi to southern Xinjiang. To the east, it connects with Qinghai and southwest China, and even the new western land-sea corridor, significantly enhancing the land link between Xinjiang and coastal regions.

China's Xinjiang completes world's longest expressway tunnel through challenging mountains

China's Xinjiang completes world's longest expressway tunnel through challenging mountains

China's Xinjiang completes world's longest expressway tunnel through challenging mountains

China's Xinjiang completes world's longest expressway tunnel through challenging mountains

Cubans are navigating lengthening blackouts and longer lines for fueling as the United States moves to cut all oil shipments to the Caribbean country.

On Friday, the U.S. government formally announced its threat to impose tariffs on goods exported to the United States from countries that supply oil to Cuba, a move that marks a further escalation of U.S. economic blockade against the island country.

At a gas station in Havana, the line stretches nearly 700 meters, with drivers saying that they began queuing the night before in hopes of securing some gasoline.

"I've been in line since last night, just to see if I can get any fuel. The line stretches through four or five blocks," said Yadier Lorenzo, a local resident.

Fuel shortage has severely affected electricity supplies nationwide. Power outages have become more frequent, which also disrupt internet access and water services, further straining daily life and economic productivity.

"Sometimes we have fuel but no electricity, or electricity but no internet. It's a complicated situation," said Cristian Caballero, another Havana resident.

"In just the past week, we've had about 26 hours of blackouts," said Fernando Blanco, a resident.

Facing the difficult time, many Cubans said they will not be defeated by the United States.

"The U.S. blockade is hurting ordinary Cubans. We can't use public transport, we generate less electricity, and fuel is vanishing. Everything is reduced. It's simply inhumane," said Mayra, a local resident.

"What the United States is doing to the Cuban people has serious consequences. They want to destroy us, children, the elderly, everyone. But we will find ways to move forward," said Evidio Aliaga, another resident.

While U.S. officials claim to support "freedom for the Cuban people," their actions have only made daily survival increasingly difficult for ordinary Cubans.

To offer relief, Mexico announced on Sunday that it will send humanitarian aid to Cuba, including food and basic supplies.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said the shipments will be handled by the Mexican navy.

Discussions on whether to include oil in the aid package are underway via diplomatic channels.

Cubans struggle with blackouts, fuel shortage amid mounting US pressure