The Taihu tunnel, China's longest underwater highway tunnel, opened to traffic on Thursday in east China's Jiangsu Province.
The 10.79-kilometer-long, 7.25-meter-tall tunnel runs under Taihu Lake, China's third-largest freshwater lake.
It is part of the 43.9-kilometer Changzhou-Wuxi Highway, which also opened to traffic on Thursday.
Construction of the underwater tunnel began in January 2018. The project utilized automatic steel processing equipment and intelligent systems that could ensure zero discharge of sewage and dust, according to the construction team.
![Vehicles pass through Nanquan toll station on the Changzhou-Wuxi Highway in east China's Jiangsu Province, Dec. 30, 2021. The Taihu tunnel, China's longest underwater highway tunnel, opened to traffic on Thursday in east China's Jiangsu Province. The 10.79-kilometer-long, 7.25-meter-tall tunnel runs under Taihu Lake, China's third-largest freshwater lake. It is part of the 43.9-kilometer Changzhou-Wuxi Highway, which also opened to traffic on Thursday.Photo-Xinhua]()
Vehicles pass through Nanquan toll station on the Changzhou-Wuxi Highway in east China's Jiangsu Province, Dec. 30, 2021. The Taihu tunnel, China's longest underwater highway tunnel, opened to traffic on Thursday in east China's Jiangsu Province. The 10.79-kilometer-long, 7.25-meter-tall tunnel runs under Taihu Lake, China's third-largest freshwater lake. It is part of the 43.9-kilometer Changzhou-Wuxi Highway, which also opened to traffic on Thursday.Photo-Xinhua
![Vehicles run on the Changzhou-Wuxi Highway in east China's Jiangsu Province, Dec. 30, 2021. The Taihu tunnel, China's longest underwater highway tunnel, opened to traffic on Thursday in east China's Jiangsu Province. The 10.79-kilometer-long, 7.25-meter-tall tunnel runs under Taihu Lake, China's third-largest freshwater lake. It is part of the 43.9-kilometer Changzhou-Wuxi Highway, which also opened to traffic on Thursday. Photos-Xinhua]()
Vehicles run on the Changzhou-Wuxi Highway in east China's Jiangsu Province, Dec. 30, 2021. The Taihu tunnel, China's longest underwater highway tunnel, opened to traffic on Thursday in east China's Jiangsu Province. The 10.79-kilometer-long, 7.25-meter-tall tunnel runs under Taihu Lake, China's third-largest freshwater lake. It is part of the 43.9-kilometer Changzhou-Wuxi Highway, which also opened to traffic on Thursday. Photos-Xinhua
![A vehicle runs inside the Taihu tunnel in east China's Jiangsu Province, Dec. 30, 2021. The Taihu tunnel, China's longest underwater highway tunnel, opened to traffic on Thursday in east China's Jiangsu Province. The 10.79-kilometer-long, 7.25-meter-tall tunnel runs under Taihu Lake, China's third-largest freshwater lake. It is part of the 43.9-kilometer Changzhou-Wuxi Highway, which also opened to traffic on Thursday. Photo: Xinhua]()
A vehicle runs inside the Taihu tunnel in east China's Jiangsu Province, Dec. 30, 2021. The Taihu tunnel, China's longest underwater highway tunnel, opened to traffic on Thursday in east China's Jiangsu Province. The 10.79-kilometer-long, 7.25-meter-tall tunnel runs under Taihu Lake, China's third-largest freshwater lake. It is part of the 43.9-kilometer Changzhou-Wuxi Highway, which also opened to traffic on Thursday. Photo: Xinhua
![Photo taken on Dec. 30, 2021 shows the entrance of the Taihu tunnel in east China's Jiangsu Province. The Taihu tunnel, China's longest underwater highway tunnel, opened to traffic on Thursday in east China's Jiangsu Province. The 10.79-kilometer-long, 7.25-meter-tall tunnel runs under Taihu Lake, China's third-largest freshwater lake. It is part of the 43.9-kilometer Changzhou-Wuxi Highway, which also opened to traffic on Thursday. Photo-Xinhua]()
Photo taken on Dec. 30, 2021 shows the entrance of the Taihu tunnel in east China's Jiangsu Province. The Taihu tunnel, China's longest underwater highway tunnel, opened to traffic on Thursday in east China's Jiangsu Province. The 10.79-kilometer-long, 7.25-meter-tall tunnel runs under Taihu Lake, China's third-largest freshwater lake. It is part of the 43.9-kilometer Changzhou-Wuxi Highway, which also opened to traffic on Thursday. Photo-Xinhua
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