A 2,425-meter-long highway tunnel was successfully cut through Thursday in Algeria, marking a milestone for construction of the mega highway linking the south and north of the North Africa country.

The T2 tunnel, the longest highway tunnel in Algeria, is built by CSCEC, China's state-run construction and engineering giant.

The North-South highway is a dual three-lane way linking the capital Algiers and the border town of In-Guezzam.

According to the contract, CSCEC will be responsible for 53 km of the mega road, including more than 40 bridges and several tunnels, which is the most challenging and complicated section of the road due to the mountainous landscape.

Despite the difficulties, the company said it pays a great deal of attention to the environment, and intends to maintain the biodiversity and protect the wildlife in the mountains.

The mega-highway is expected to be completed by 2025.

New China TV