Core Points - The newly constructed highways in Liangshan Prefecture have significantly improved transportation, adding 161 kilometers of expressways and bringing the total expressway mileage in the region to 633 kilometers, ranking it fifth in Sichuan Province [3][4]. Group 1: New Highways and Connectivity - The Lexion Expressway (乐西高速) from Mabei to Zhaojue has been fully opened, reducing travel time from Chengdu to Zhaojue from 9 hours to 4 hours, and from Mabei to Meigu from 3 hours to 1 hour [4]. - The Lexion Expressway features a dual four-lane design with a speed limit of 80 km/h and includes 9 interchanges and 3 service areas, enhancing the transportation network [4]. - The Yipan Expressway (宜攀高速) has also seen multiple key sections open, allowing for direct travel from Ningnan to Panzhihua in 2 hours, down from 5 hours [5][6]. Group 2: Future Developments - The Xizhao Expressway (西昭高速) has completed a significant section, with plans for full completion by 2026, contributing to the goal of achieving "county-level expressway connectivity" by 2030 [6]. - Liangshan Prefecture is currently experiencing a peak in expressway construction, with 9 projects underway, aiming to exceed 1600 kilometers of expressway by 2030, securing the second position in the province [6].

Core Viewpoint - The construction of the Le-Xi Expressway faces challenges due to the presence of the rare plant species, Metasequoia glyptostroboides, also known as the "living fossil," necessitating a balance between road development and environmental protection [1] Group 1 - The Le-Xi Expressway from Mabi to Zhaojue is set to open on December 31, significantly reducing travel time from Chengdu to Zhaojue to just 4 hours [1] - The construction route passes through the Daxiangling area, which is densely populated with Metasequoia glyptostroboides, making it impossible to completely avoid the plant during road construction [1] - To address this issue, over 2,000 Metasequoia glyptostroboides were relocated, marking the largest scale of such a migration in the country, with an average cost of approximately 20,000 yuan per tree for the relocation [1]