The Duku Highway in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region will soon reopen to traffic after an annual winter closure.
Highway operators are close to finishing the removal of meters-deep snow from the road, and de-icing is expected to begin Thursday in the Yuximolegai Tunnel, where operations on both ends of the highway will conclude.
The 561-kilometer Duku Highway connects Dushanzi in the north of Xinjiang and Kuqa City in the south. One-third of the highway runs along cliffs, and one-fifth of it lies within permafrost zones in high mountains.
Snow clearing operations on the road face numerous challenges, including harsh weather conditions, melt-freeze crust formation, and risks of machinery damage, falls from cliffs, and avalanche.
These difficulties have limited the speed of snow removal down to one kilometer per day.
In order to ensure safety, the edges of road and cliffs have been clearly marked to prevent falling and personnel have been deployed to observe snowcaps.
Considered one of China's most scenic roads, the Duku Highway runs through various landscapes including canyons, glaciers, lakes and grasslands. It serves not only as a golden pathway to prosperity for local people, but also a popular tourist attraction in summer.
The highway is temporarily closed every October due to increased snowfall and road icing, and often reopens in June the next year.
China's Duku Highway to resume traffic after eight-month winter closure
