Recent announcements from China's Ministry of Transport have outlined plans to fully connect the three national backbone highways—G219 along the border, G331 in the north, and the coastal G228—creating a comprehensive "golden outer ring" encircling the nation's border and coastal regions. As a key component of this national strategy on the eastern Guangdong coast, the reconstruction project of the G228 national highway section from Jinghai Yueshan to the Petrochemical Avenue in Huilai, Jieyang, is being undertaken by the Fourth Harbor Engineering Co., Ltd. (referred to as CCCC Fourth Harbor Engineering). Construction is advancing rapidly, with heavy machinery operating at full capacity and intense activity on-site, signaling that this vital "golden artery" connecting eastern Guangdong with the greater bay area is quickly taking shape.
Currently, the fourth section of the project is in full swing, with bridge pile foundations, cofferdams, tie beams, piers, subgrade earthworks, soft soil treatment, culverts, and retaining walls progressing simultaneously. Meanwhile, the first section is methodically moving through preliminary stages such as land acquisition, demolition, and the setup of a concrete mixing station. The project is brimming with momentum as the team strives to meet its milestones. Scheduled for completion in 2029, the upgrade will address the shortcomings of the existing coastal trunk road in Huilai, significantly boosting the connectivity between the Dahanhai Petrochemical Industrial Zone and surrounding townships. It is expected to provide strong support for the development of Guangdong's coastal tourist highway and serve as a crucial artery linking eastern Guangdong with the Greater Bay Area along the G228 corridor of the "golden outer ring."
The G228 Huilai Jinghai Yueshan to Petrochemical Avenue reconstruction is a massive, complex, and high-standard undertaking, designed as a first-class highway with six lanes in both directions, a design speed of 80 km/h, a roadbed width of 33 meters, and an asphalt concrete pavement. The first section spans 14.12 kilometers, featuring three bridges totaling 643.5 meters, 50 culverts, and supporting facilities such as a maintenance area and a rest stop. The fourth section extends 9.275 kilometers, including the Longjiang Bridge at 1,202 meters, two large bridges totaling 722.4 meters, one interchange, three ramp bridges for the interchange totaling 1,595.2 meters, and 50 culverts. Given the challenging coastal environment of eastern Guangdong—characterized by high salt-spray corrosion, soft soil settlement risks, and complex water-adjacent operations—the project team has prioritized innovative engineering solutions, tailoring construction techniques to local conditions.
A project leader for the fourth section, Qin Wei, explained: "To tackle the difficulties of coastal soft foundations, we are employing methods such as riprap with mud extrusion, vertical drain preloading, and rigid pile composite foundations to effectively manage settlement and deformation risks. In response to the high salt-spray environment, we have optimized concrete mix designs and applied specialized anti-corrosion treatments to piers, culverts, and slopes, with standardized control across all procedures to ensure long-term durability. For the complex aspects of the Longjiang Bridge, such as deep-water cofferdams and large-scale precast beam installation, we have established a full-process quality traceability system for key steps like pile foundations, piers, and caps. We conduct meticulous oversight of critical parameters, including concrete mix ratios, reinforcement cover thickness, and prestressed beam tensioning and grouting, to deliver a high-quality engineering product."
Safety is the lifeline of the project. The team from CCCC Fourth Harbor Engineering has implemented a dual prevention mechanism combining risk classification and control with hazard investigation, particularly for high-risk activities such as cofferdam construction, work at heights, heavy equipment lifting, subgrade excavation, concurrent operations, and traffic diversions. They strictly adhere to standardized safety practices and grid-based management, preparing specialized construction plans, reinforcing safety briefings, conducting routine inspections and emergency drills, and standardizing on-site and traffic management to ensure every aspect is under vigilant protection.
This project is not just about regional development; it also directly impacts the well-being of local communities. A leader for the first section, Chen Fen, said: "Given the dense distribution of villages and towns along the route and the complex traffic conditions, we are proactively optimizing our construction schedule and traffic diversion plans to minimize disruptions to residents' daily lives. At the same time, adhering to a principle of shared benefits, we are actively coordinating with local towns and villages, prioritizing the hiring of local labor and the use of local machinery resources to boost employment and income. This fulfills our social responsibilities as a central state-owned enterprise, allowing the project's progress and local development to advance in harmony."
Looking ahead, the construction team at CCCC Fourth Harbor Engineering will remain focused on the project timeline, coordinating quality, safety, and environmental protection to push forward construction with high standards and efficiency, ensuring an early opening. With a superior engineering product, they aim to pave a smooth path for development along the coast of the South China Sea, injecting fresh momentum into the region's high-quality economic and social growth.
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