‘Overwater highway’ costing $70mn launched in central China (PHOTOS)

A one-off route, dubbed the 'overwater highway', has opened in Hubei province, central China. In order to avoid cutting through the woods, about 4.4 kilometers of the 10.9-kilometer highway has been constructed above a river that runs through picturesque mountains.

The local authorities have spent $70 million to build the highway, Xinhua  reported. Those behind the project claim it to be the country's first “ecological overwater road.”

The new route is expected to boost tourism by essentially cutting down driving time between remote villages and towns and bigger cities.

A new highway in Hubei province, China mostly built over #water, opened to traffic this week pic.twitter.com/QId99ycmGn

— Joe Nyangon (@JoeNyangon) August 11, 2015