A section of the TS-8 Highway project in Jubail, Saudi Arabia, constructed by China Railway 18th Bureau Group, also known as CR18G, was officially opened to traffic recently following its handover.

The project is expected to achieve full handover and be completely operational by September this year.

As a key project designated by the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu (RCJY), the TS-8 Highway serves as a vital express link connecting Highway 95 with the industrial zone.

"The opening of this highway will significantly alleviate traffic congestion in Jubail, enhance transportation efficiency, benefit local residents and stimulate regional economic development," said Jubail Chief Executive Officer of Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu, Mahmoud Al-Dheeb.

He expressed great satisfaction with CR18G's performance throughout the construction process, highly commending the team's work. "Chinese solutions and expertise have made significant contributions to local infrastructure development," he said.

Cheng Junjie, an executive of CR18G, said that the Jubail TS-8 Highway project exemplifies the company's continuous dedication to serving long-term clients since entering the Jubail market in 2001.

"It is also a testament to our deep cooperation with the RCJY and a symbol of the friendship between China and Saudi Arabia. We will continue to uphold our high-quality construction philosophy to complete the subsequent phases of the project, contributing more Chinese expertise to Saudi Arabia's infrastructure development," he added.

The total length of the highway is 16.84 kilometers, designed as a dual three-lane carriageway with a speed limit of 120 km/h. The newly opened section spans 8.1 km, representing approximately 50 percent of the mainline project.

Since the project's commencement, CR18G has steadily advanced construction despite challenges posed by the local high temperatures and harsh environmental conditions. Furthermore, the project faced complexities due to its connections with existing roads and the need to traverse land belonging to various government departments and private factories.

A dedicated technical team was formed to develop specialized construction plans, which successfully overcame these obstacles one by one.

Liu Lina contributed to the story.