On the Gobi Highway in southern Uzbekistan, the tire marks of old two lane roads have been lingering for decades. On September 18, 2026, the key section of the A380 highway upgrade and renovation constructed by China Railway 20th Bureau officially started construction. This key trunk line on the ancient Silk Road has ushered in a new opportunity for renovation and expansion. Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev attended the groundbreaking ceremony via video link and sent his best wishes for the smooth progress of the project.

Comprehensive upgrade of 92 kilometers of old road sections

The construction of this project covers the A380 highway from 581 kilometers to 673 kilometers, with a total renovation distance of 92 kilometers. It is the key section with the largest traffic flow and the most prominent aging degree in Uzbekistan. The original two-way two lane highway has been in service for many years, with insufficient carrying capacity, frequent congestion during peak hours, and a long-term safety accident rate higher than the national average.

The project will expand and upgrade the entire section of the road, while simultaneously improving the protective facilities, traffic signs, and emergency shelter areas along the route, comprehensively enhancing the efficiency and safety level of road traffic. After the renovation is completed, this section of road will become one of the highest standard trunk highways in Uzbekistan, completely eliminating regional traffic bottlenecks.

Opening in 2029 to connect regional economic networks

As a key component of the China Central Asia West Asia Economic Corridor, this road, after renovation, will directly connect important towns, industrial and mining areas, and cross-border logistics nodes along the route. The 92 kilometer journey that used to take 3 hours to complete will be reduced to less than 1 hour, greatly improving the efficiency of cross-border freight turnover.

According to the project construction plan, the entire upgraded section will be officially completed and opened to traffic in 2029. During the project promotion process, it will also create over 2000 direct employment opportunities for the local area, while simultaneously driving the development of supporting industries such as building materials, transportation, and services along the route, injecting sustained momentum into the economic growth of the southern region of Uzbekistan. Keywords: highway renovation project, Uzbekistan

The new roadbed on the Gobi is gradually extending forward. This modern highway, which bears the memory of the ancient Silk Road, will become another landmark entity achievement of China Uzbekistan cooperation in building the the Belt and Road.Editor/Cheng Liting