The first soothing lighting project for Guizhou expressway has passed tests at the Huangjiawu Tunnel along the Liupangshui-Weining Expressway, representing a major breakthrough for Guizhou in expressway construction and maintenance.

The only self-management transportation project under construction in China, the expressway follows the principle of energy conversion, using tombarthite to store light energy, which can convert light under the excitation of a special safety spectrum.

Due to the incoroporation of material that can be used at very low power consumption levels, which can completely eliminate the "black hole" or "blind light" phenomenon found in traffic tunnels or underground, the light greatly improves the visual distance in dark environments and increases driving safety.

In line with national traffic lighting technical requirements, the soothing lighting facility will gradually replace current LED methods, according to the Guizhou Expressway Group.

Now the lighting has been put into use at the Huangjiawu Tunnel, the light is also better for people's eyes than harsh LED lighting.

"The soothing lighting is a result of various pieces of high-tech. It boasts a good smoke penetration and can withstand temperatures as high as 1,000 C," said a staff member with the project.

The material is free of radiation, contains no heavy metals and can be mixed with negative ion coatings to increase the negative ion concentration of the tunnel air. The lifespan of the lights are between five and?10 years.

The Liupanshui-Weining Expressway lighting project undergoes testing. [Photo/gog.cn]