The advance excavation section of the new shipping channel at the Three Gorges Project has surpassed the halfway point, according to China Three Gorges Corporation.

The company said more than 56% of the total planned excavation work has been completed, with the advance excavation section expected to be finished by October this year.

Construction of the Three Gorges new waterway project, the first major national landmark project launched during China's 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), officially began on June 8. The project includes a new shipping channel at the Three Gorges Project and navigation capacity expansion works at the Gezhouba Dam. It is designed to accommodate vessels of up to 10,000 tonnes.

Located north of the existing Three Gorges ship locks, the new channel will have a planned length of 6,680 meters. The waterway consists of three sections – an upstream approach channel, a five-stage ship lock system serving as the core of the project, and a downstream approach channel.

Once completed, the new channel is expected to significantly improve navigation efficiency and transport capacity along the Yangtze River. The Three Gorges transport hub's annual two-way shipping capacity is projected to reach 336 million tonnes.

The advance excavation area is located at the end of the future upstream approach channel. Work there includes excavation of a pilot section of the channel, slope stabilization and drainage works, as well as construction-related testing and other preparatory tasks.

The project is expected to further enhance the Yangtze River's role as a major transportation corridor and support the development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt.