China Achieves Milestone in Advanced Shield Excavation Technology with the Completion of the Chongtai Tunnel
In a significant leap forward for China’s high-speed rail network, the nation has recently completed the Chongtai Tunnel under the Yangtze River, demonstrating the remarkable capabilities of its latest-generation shield excavation technology. This tunnel forms a crucial component of the ambitious high-speed railway line designed to link Shanghai with Chongqing and Chengdu, marking a historical achievement in infrastructure development.
Spanning a total length of 14.25 kilometers, with a shield section measuring 13.20 kilometers, the Chongtai Tunnel has set a new global benchmark by becoming the world’s largest tunnel of its kind, boasting an impressive diameter of 15.4 meters. Constructed under the complex conditions of the deepest part of the Yangtze River, facing a maximum water pressure of 0.9 MPa, the tunnel connects two major metropolitan areas: Chongming district in Shanghai and the city of Taicang in Jiangsu.
The construction of this monumental infrastructure project, carried out by China Railway Tunnel Group (CRTG), has pioneered the development and implementation of nine intelligent construction technologies. These innovations encompass key areas such as perception, design, prefabrication, excavation, and smart management, significantly enhancing the project’s efficiency and quality. Furthermore, they have facilitated the establishment of an innovative automated factory for the production of tunnel segments.
The “Pioneer”, a fully intelligent shield machine, has already achieved more than 2,600 meters of excavation and is currently navigating autonomously through sensitive areas of the Yangtze River, ensuring a safe and unmanned operation. This development is a part of China’s ambitious “eight vertical and eight horizontal” high-speed rail infrastructure plan.
The completion of the Chongtai Tunnel is a historic event, enabling high-speed trains to cross the Yangtze River without slowing down for the first time, thus tightening the link between Shanghai and Nanjing. This project not only enhances the country’s railway network but also supports the Belt and Road Initiative, promoting the economic development of the Yangtze River Delta.