Gezhouba ship lock expansion enters main construction phase

Work has begun on two cofferdams for an expansion at the Gezhouba water-control complex in Yichang, Hubei.

The project is part of the Yangtze Three Gorges water transport corridor, which began construction in June 2026.

It will remove the existing No.

3 ship lock and build two new locks sized to let vessels of up to 10,000 tonnes pass.

The cofferdams will isolate the construction area so crews can build the locks on dry ground.

Building them in this central shipping area requires managing both seasonal low-water conditions and vessel traffic.

The existing No.

2 ship lock will remain in operation during construction, with traffic controls set by navigation authorities.

Authorities plan to coordinate safety, scheduling and channel maintenance across a 59-kilometre stretch of the Three Gorges river section.