THE MOST BREATHTAKING ROUTES IN THE WORLD, 3rd PART

Dear readers,

I am enclosing the 3rd part of the most challenging routes in the world. 

Click here to see the complete selection of unique roads in the world

Gouliang Tunnel. Thirteen villagers began the project. The tunnel is 1.2 kilometres (0.75 mi) long, 5 metres (16 ft) tall and 4 metres (13 ft) wide. Some of the villagers died in accidents during construction. On 1 May 1977 the tunnel was opened to traffic. The creation of the tunnel was a major leap forward for the villagers, as it became a tourist attraction when China opened its borders for tourists. Several hotels have been built to accommodate all these people.

Interstate 105 was an integral part of a Caltrans 1960s master plan for the Southern California freeway system, but did not open until 1993. Many factors contributed to the delay. The growth of the environmental movement in the 1960s created resistance to new freeway construction. Fiscal difficulties brought about by the 1971 Sylmar earthquake and the California tax revolt of the late 1970s further hampered Caltrans' construction efforts.

As usual with Japanese engineering, all details finished to perfection. 

Puxi Viaduct & Shanghai Intersection Spiral. The spiraling interchange leading to Nampu Bridge, is one of the world’s largest. Although the most common type of interchange has four levels, this one has six, its incredible construction makes it a marvel of Chinese engineering.

Double Spiral Bridge. Many innovations seem only to appear where there is a really unusual need, warranting an unusual solution. The Kawazu-Nanadaru Loop Bridge in Japan is one such example: How do you build a bridge from one mountainside to another when the sides of the mountain are so steep that it is not possible to build a road at the same elevation on both sides? This double spiral brings cars up and down a full 45 meters (148 feet) while being seemingly suspended in a valley between two mountainsides.

Highway 17. US 17 enters South Carolina in Jasper County as a two-lane road and within 8 miles (13 km) enters Hardeeville, where it becomes a four-lane configuration. US 17 intersects Interstate 95 in Hardeeville and runs parallel to Interstate 95 until Ridgeland, where it merges with the interstate until Point South. At Point South, US 17 leaves Interstate 95 and heads eastward into northern  Beaufort County, sharing a concurrency with U.S. 21 until Gardens Corner. US 21 splits off to Beaufort while US 17 heads northeast into the ACE Basin and Colleton County. This stretch of road is currently being upgraded from a two-lane to a four-lane configuration, due to safety concerns. Source: Wikipedia

Yakutsk lies in the far-eastern part of Russia, about 450 kilometers south of the Arctic Circle. It holds the title of the coldest city on earth, with winter temperatures dropping below -50°C. It is the capital of the Sakha province. Yakutsk has a population of about 200,000, with a million people living in the rest of the region.

The Dades Gorge in the valley of the roses and the Todra Gorge provide some of the most spectacular scenery of the south.  These are fertile valleys where roses bloom in profusion in the Skoura and El Kelaa des Mgouna oases and where a large part of Morocco's rose and rose water production occurs.  Most people visits these gorges en route to Erfound and Merzouga, but it's also a wonderful area for private camping safaris. Source: naturalhighsafaris.com

Hiyoshi Dam in Kyoto, Japan. This unique gazebo bridge is located at the foot of the Hiyoshi dam near Kyoto, Japan. It is part of Hiyoshi Spring spa resort and was designed by Japanese architect Norihiko Dan, who also planned the landscaping of the spa resort and park. Built in 1998 the bridge known as 'Friendship Bridge' has a diameter of 80 meters.