Excavation of World's Longest Highway Tunnel Makes Key Progress

The Tianshan Shengli Tunnel of the Urumqi-Yuli Highway in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region dug through the project's longest and most dangerous fracture zone on Aug 23, a key step in the tunnel excavation.

With a total length of about 22.1 kilometers, the Tianshan Shengli Tunnel is currently the world's longest of its kind.

It is designed to run through 16 fracture zones. The one dug through on Aug 23 was the most difficult as it impacts up to about 400 meters of tunnel length and contains dozens of rocks. Its fragile geological condition and the underground water as well as rich geological activities in surrounding areas increases the risk of accidents during excavation like bursting of water and mud and large-scale collapses.

China Communications Construction Company Limited (CCCC) is responsible for the project.

CCCC has drilled 2,271 meters using horizontal directional drilling technology for the first time in design, survey and construction of a domestic highway.

Builders also made full use of the fusion technology of 5G, intelligence and information to monitor operation of the tunnel boring machine and maintain disaster early warning of toxic and harmful gas in the tunnel.

The 318.5-kilometer Urumqi-Yuli Highway will shorten travel time between the two terminals to three hours once operational and is expected to contribute to construction of Xinjiang's core zone of Silk Road Economic Belt, boost regional economic and social development and promote advantageous resource development.

Engineers at work in the Tianshan Shengli Tunnel of the Urumqi-Yuli Highway in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]

(Executive editor: Niu Yilin)