Quick Take: Buildings Take Shape at New Chinese Crossing

A large construction project, expected to be the centerpiece of a new international trade crossing with China, is beginning to take shape. Commercial satellite imagery shows the footprints of several buildings have appeared at the site, which is at the eastern end of a large, as-yet unused bridge that connects the two countries.  

The site is expected to be a customs and immigration center to handle freight and passengers crossing the New Yalu River Bridge. The bridge is much larger than the Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge to its north, but has sat unused for more than a decade. 

Work on the presumed customs area began in 2020 but was soon halted and didn’t resume until March this year, when construction huts appeared at the site and the beginnings of building foundations took shape. 

On the other side of the bridge, China recently added several inspection facilities to its customs facility. Together, the work on both sides of the bridge is a step closer to the opening of the new crossing, however neither country has announced an expected opening date.