China’s first cross-sea subway tunnel with shielding method

The cross-sea tunnel on Xiamen Subway Line 2, the first and technically most difficult tunnel applying the shielding method, was connected on Mar 10.

The tunnel, designed by China Railway Siyuan Survey and Design Group Co Ltd and constructed by China Railway 14th Bureau Group Co Ltd, is 2,736 meters in length; 2,500 meters was constructed using the shielding method.

The stratigraphic geology in a cross-sea tunnel is much more complex than those of tunnels crossing other water systems such as rivers and lakes.

Being the first of its kind in China, the construction of the tunnel had no previous standards or precedents to follow. Construction started early in December 2014 and many new techniques and technologies were applied in its design and construction to make it safe.

Xiamen Subway Line 2, being the skeleton line in the Xiamen transportation system connecting east and west, is a fast tunnel between Xiamen island and Haicang district and is expected to be put into operation by the end of 2019.

The location map of the cross-sea tunnel for Xiamen Subway Line 2 [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]

A sketch of the route of the cross-sea tunnel for Xiamen Subway Line 2 [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]

The cross-sea tunnel for Xiamen Subway Line 2, built with the shielding method, is connected on Mar 10. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]

(Executive editor: Hao Wen)