(CFP Photo)

Jiangsu completed investment of 156.51 billion yuan in transport infrastructure, including railway, waterway and airport projects, in the first seven months of the year, accounting for 78.2% of the annual scheduled spending.

The T1 international terminal at Yancheng Nanyang International Airport opened on July 12. Suqian Port concluded an expansion project on July 27, and the Shanghai-Nanjing high-speed railway along the Yangtze River started trial operation on August 16.

Steady progress was also achieved in the construction of Changzhou-Taizhou Yangtze River Bridge despite weather challenges like high temperatures, typhoons and rainstorms, according to an official from the province’s Department of Transport Infrastructure Construction. The goal this year is to complete the main works of a 352-meter-high tower, which would be highest in the world, and a 388-meter-long span.

Furthermore, the first section of the Suzhou East Tunnel, an important part of the Nantong-Suzhou-Jiaxing-Ningbo High-speed Railway, finished concrete pouring on August 9. Geng Chao, deputy chief engineer of the section from China Railway 14th Bureau Group, said that the shield tunnel for bullet trains is the longest and largest of its kind in China. It is anticipated that the main works of the tunnel can be finished by this year.

The coastal province has till now completed the construction of 18 river-crossing channels and plans to increase the number to 23 by 2025.