First line of China’s longest shield machine expressway tunnel is completed

The slurry TBM, known as “Jinghua,” has successfully finished the west line tunnel Beijing East Sixth Ring Road reconstruction project in China, signifying the completion of the first line of China’s lengthiest shield machine expressway tunnel.

The machine was equipped with a range of innovative and independent core technologies to ensure efficient and safe tunnelling (Photo: CRCHI)

The TBM, manufactured by China Railway Construction Heavy Industry Corporation Limited (CRCHI), is the first shield machine made in China with an excavation diameter of 16.07 metres.

The Beijing East Sixth Ring Road Reconstruction Project spans approximately 16 kilometres, extending from the Beijing-Harbin Expressway in the south to Luyuanbei Street in the north.

The tunnel consists of a twin-tunnel configuration, with each tunnel having three layers. The upper level serves as a smoke extraction channel, the middle level accommodates a three-lane expressway, and the lower level acts as an evacuation and rescue channel. 

The construction of the TBM tunnel on this project is said to have faced numerous challenges, including the use of a mega large diameter machine over a long distance at an ultra-deep depth in a highly sensitive environment.

The machine was equipped with a range of innovative and independent core technologies to ensure efficient and safe tunnelling through complex geological conditions, comprising sandy soil, water-rich and high-density sand, interactive layers of silt, and cohesive soil.

The completion of the Beijing East Sixth Ring Road Reconstruction Project is said to be a significant achievement in the development of the city’s sub-centre. Once open to traffic, the project will facilitate the integration of Tongzhou District and the administrative office area of the sub-centre, significantly improving Beijing’s transportation services and promoting seamless transportation within the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region, contributing to the establishment of a comprehensive transportation system.