December 16, 2006

Chongqing, China

After more than a year of digging, workers celebrated completing the excavation of the Daping traffic tunnel's left tube on December 16. The dual-tunnel system in China's Chongqing municipality is said to be the biggest urban tunnel in Asia, stretching 4,708 feet (1,435 meters). It connects the Jiangbei District with downtown Yuzhong, and is expected to cut travel time between the cities by half an hour.

Each tunnel is 69 feet (21 meters) wide and will accommodate three lanes of traffic. Excavation of the right tube is expected to be completed on December 25.

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