Key facts
- China has commenced construction on a 77.2-billion-yuan ($11.4 billion) project to build a second shipping channel at the Three Gorges Dam.
- The project aims to ease congestion on the Yangtze River, a critical trade artery.
- It includes a new transit channel at the Three Gorges hub and an expansion of capacity at the downstream Gezhouba Dam.
- The channel is designed for 10,000-ton shipping fleets.
- Construction is expected to take approximately nine years.
China has initiated construction on a significant infrastructure project along the Yangtze River, the nation's busiest inland waterway. The 77.2-billion-yuan ($11.4 billion) endeavor involves building a second shipping channel at the Three Gorges Dam and expanding capacity at the downstream Gezhouba Dam. This project is designed to alleviate severe congestion by accommodating 10,000-ton shipping fleets, thereby enhancing logistical efficiency on this critical trade artery. The construction is anticipated to take approximately nine years to complete.