The “Zi Jing” U-shaped shield pipe jacking machine, developed by China Railway Engineering Co., Ltd., has been put to work at the Yuen Long South infrastructure project in Hong Kong.
Innovatively integrating the functions of a pipe jacking machine and a shield tunneling machine, the U-shaped machine is specifically designed for open-cut construction scenarios. The machine measures 45 meters in length, 7.5 meters in width, and 15.7 meters in height, with a total weight of 240 tons.
It pioneers a box culvert construction method that achieves three major breakthroughs: first, the use of enclosed excavation and intelligent assembly technology reduces earthwork excavation by 75 percent; second, the compact operation significantly decreases land use, addressing construction challenges in densely populated urban areas; and third, it introduces a new construction model characterized by reduced labor, prefabrication and low carbon emissions. This operation system not only minimizes environmental disruption but also drives the advancement of comprehensive utility tunnel construction towards greener and smarter solutions.
The machine is deployed in the first-phase development of the Yuen Long South site formation and infrastructure project. With its prefabricated and mechanized construction approach, the machine sets an example for future green infrastructure development in Hong Kong.
(Executive editor: Wang Ruoting)
