China Uses AI to Build 157km Highway, No Workers

In a groundbreaking leap for infrastructure and AI, China has completed a 157.79 km stretch of the Beijing–Hong Kong–Macao Expressway entirely with autonomous machinery, drones, and AI systems, without a single human on-site during paving and compaction.

China Uses AI to Build 157km Highway, No Workers
China Uses AI to Build 157km Highway, No Workers

In a groundbreaking leap for infrastructure and AI, China has completed a 157.79 km stretch of the Beijing–Hong Kong–Macao Expressway entirely with autonomous machinery, drones, and AI systems, without a single human on-site during paving and compaction. This world-first project showcases a new era for “smart infrastructure” in road construction.

  • First fully autonomous highway paving project: ~158 km completed without human operators 

  • Machines involved: unmanned paver, six 13‑tonne double‑drum rollers, three 30‑tonne rubber‑wheel rollers.

  • Result: High quality, centimeter-level precision paving, “zero” trimming errors, and fewer joints due to 19.25 m single-pass paving. Enhanced safety: machines fitted with electronic fences, obstacle detection, and emergency stop systems.

  • Economic edge: lower labor costs, reduced downtime, minimal traffic disruption.

  • Global model: European pilot projects exist, but China is the first to do this at scale

Autonomous drones scanned and mapped the route, captured surface defects, and designed paving layouts 

The SAP200C‑10 paver laid a 19.25 m-wide asphalt layer in one go, cutting down on seams and boosting smoothness 

Followed the paver in a coordinated “1+3+3+3” formation to compress asphalt evenly 

Sensors tracked compaction density, temperature, and edge precision, adjusting machine behavior dynamically 

Electronic geofences, automatic emergency stops, and radar obstacle detection ensured safe operations.

  • Scale: Never before has a project of this length been completed fully unmanned.

  • Precision: Centimeter accuracy and seamless paving reduce structural defects and future repairs.

  • Safety & Efficiency: No on-site crew, reduced accidents, and lower labor dependency.

  • Economic Benefit: 24/7 work cycles allowed minimal public disruption and cut travel delays

  • Developed by Sany, a leading Chinese heavy machinery maker 

  • Integrated Beidou satellite navigation and low-latency 5G communication.

  • AI systems and coordination software are crafted by academic/industry groups.

  • Partnerships with provincial governments and Tsinghua University make this part of China’s “smart highway” initiative

“This project proves fully autonomous construction is not only possible—it’s efficient, safe, and a blueprint for the world.” Highways Industry report 

“While China leads, Western nations can follow—and scale up smart infrastructure.” — Urban development expert Nicolaie Moldovan

“The tech still demands upfront investments; economically scalable adoption will take time.” — David Case, infrastructure analyst

High initial costs make immediate deployment impractical for many countries.

Technical breakdowns need robust monitoring and fallback systems.

Regulatory hurdles: safety approvals, liability laws, and standards must evolve.

Workforce implications: potential job displacement; reskilling initiatives essential.

China’s AI-driven highway project marks a major milestone in infrastructure tech. By marrying autonomous machinery, high-precision positioning, AI oversight, and connectivity networks, it sets a global standard. While the road to global adoption will require investment, smart governance, and workforce evolution, China’s innovative leap offers a roadmap for the future of safe, efficient, and intelligent infrastructure.