China Begins Massive New Ship Lock Construction at Three Gorges Dam
China has officially started construction on a massive new ship lock system at the Three Gorges Dam, the world’s largest hydropower project. The mega-infrastructure development is aimed at nearly doubling cargo capacity on the vital Yangtze River.
Valued at around $11.4 billion, the project features a five-stage “water staircase” lock system designed to help 10,000 to 11,000-ton class ships pass through the dam much more efficiently.
The updated system will include a long two-way navigation channel and modernized infrastructure to significantly ease the growing congestion currently straining the existing locks.
Once completed after about 9.3 years of construction, the annual cargo capacity is expected to rise to over 330 million tons, clearing a major shipping bottleneck on one of China's most important transport routes.
