九绵高速通车串联起沿线30余处优质文旅资源 川西天路开启交旅融合新格局

Core Points - The "Three Rings and Nine Pearls" tourism route covers a total distance of 4,500 kilometers, connecting six 5A-level scenic spots and 47 4A-level scenic spots [1] - The "Three Rings" consist of the "Fast Travel" ring, which includes the "East Ring," "West Ring," and "Main Ring," allowing tourists to choose different routes based on their travel plans [1] - The "Nine Pearls" are themed slow travel routes that connect three categories of nine small tourism loops [2] Infrastructure Development - The Jiuzhai-Mianyang Expressway (referred to as Jiuzhai Expressway) is 245.8 kilometers long, connecting various scenic areas and forming a new travel integration model [2][3] - The expressway significantly reduces travel time from Chengdu to Jiuzhai Valley from 8 hours to approximately 4 hours, and from Mianyang to Jiuzhai Valley to about 3 hours [2] - The expressway ends the historical lack of highway access for Jiuzhai Valley, Pingwu, and Beichuan counties, improving travel for over 1.94 million residents [3][6] Construction Challenges - The Jiuzhai Expressway took 9 years to complete, involving over 40,000 builders, making it one of the longest construction periods for a highway in Sichuan [4] - The construction faced numerous challenges, including complex geological conditions and natural disasters such as earthquakes and landslides [5] - The expressway features 131 bridges and 45 tunnels, with a bridge-tunnel ratio of 82.15%, and includes the challenging Baima Tunnel, which is one of the highest difficulty levels for highway tunnels in China [5] Economic Impact - The expressway has led to a significant increase in tourism, with local villagers reporting a two to threefold increase in visitors and a substantial rise in income from tourism-related businesses [6] - The opening of the expressway has facilitated job creation in the local area, with residents finding employment opportunities in tourism and related services [6][7] - The expressway connects to other major highways, enhancing the regional transportation network and creating a convenient provincial transportation corridor [7] Future Developments - By the end of the year, Sichuan plans to complete 13 more highway projects, adding approximately 840 kilometers to the highway network, with a total of over 11,000 kilometers of highways expected [8] - The "14th Five-Year Plan" aims to add nearly 3,000 kilometers of highway during the period, further enhancing connectivity and accessibility in the region [8]