Wuhan Yangtze Tunnel Finally Open

They promised end of 2008 and sure enough, with a few days to spare, the Wuhan Yangtze Tunnel is finally open.  Started in 2004, this massive project is, in fact, the first tunnel under the Yangtze River and cost RMB1.7-2.0 billion (about USD250-300 million) depending on your sources.  Though this tunnel is the first, it won’t be the last as other sous-Yangtze tunnels are in process in both Shanghai and Nanjing.

I remain skeptical that this four-lane marvel (pictures make it look like two) will truly relieve the traffic burden in Wuhan.  One article claims travel time is reduced from 30 to 7 minutes.  It’s a neat engineering feat, but I’m not convinved that Wuhan couldn’t use the cash for other more pressing projects.  Like the horseracing track.