Highway in the Mountains: The Western Yunnan Roads Development Project

Event:

Highway in the Mountains: The Western Yunnan Roads Development Project

01 September 2014
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Yunnan is a remote, mountainous province in the Peoples’ Republic of China (PRC). Many of its residents are from poor, minority groups that rely on subsistence farming. Lack of connectivity exacerbates their poverty.

In 2003, PRC, with assistance from the Asian Development Bank, launched the Western Yunnan Roads Development Project, which aimed to connect Western Yunnan to the country’s regional centers and to the Greater Mekong Subregion.

The project faced several challenges at the start—the complex geological conditions and the need to preserve the environment at the construction site among many. The project site was along steep mountains and 31 geologic faults. Landslides, rock slides, and karst collapses were common in the area. In addition, the project site covers part of the Gaoligong Mountain National Nature Reserve, a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization World Heritage Site, and a World Wildlife Fund protected area. Thus, the project had to preserve the surrounding ecosystems while ensuring the expressway’s structural safety.

This publication shows how the project tackled the issues of poverty, connectivity, and environmental preservation using innovative strategies. It shows how the project has integrated geological and environmental issues into its design so that the expressway can truly contribute to improved access to basic services and local economies in the province, and ultimately, help reduce poverty.

Geographical Focus: 
China, People's Republic of
Type of Content: 
Project Stories

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