Shenzhen-Zhongshan Bridge Makes Key Progress

The E3 immersed tube of the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Bridge was connected to the E2 tube 20 meters underwater on Aug 28 with guidance from the Beidou Navigation Satellite System.

The E2 tube and the E3 tube are both standard pipe sections, 165 meters long, 46 meters wide and 10.6 meters high.

Weighing about 80,000 tons, the tube was transported by Yi Hang Jin An 1, a self-propelled floating-transport integrated vessel.

Yi Hang Jin Ping 2, the world's largest and most advanced self-elevating gravel laying ship, also played a role in the installation. It was the first time the ship has operated in a semi-floating method in China.

The domestic-developed Beidou Navigation Satellite System was used to offer real-time three-dimensional immersed tube data during the installation.

The installation verified the actual utility of the system in sea-crossing engineering.

Installation of five immersed tubes of the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Bridge is scheduled to be completed this year.

Upon completion, the bridge will become an artery between the Shenzhen-Dongguan-Huizhou and Zhuhai-Zhongshan-Jiangmen economic circles and support coordinated development of Shenzhen and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

The E3 immersed tube of the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Bridge is transported by Yi Hang Jin An 1, a self-propelled floating-transport integrated vessel. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]

The installation site of the E3 immersed tube of the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Bridge [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]

(Executive editor: Wang Ruoting)