At 8:56 on June 10, the first shield machine of Hefei Rail Transit Phase III Project, "New Journey No. 1", was successfully launched at Yujiu Road Station on the eastern extension of Line 2, marking that the Phase III Project has fully entered a new stage of shield tunneling construction.

Phase III Project Accelerates on Multiple Fronts

The launch site of this shield machine, Yujiu Road Station, is an underground two-level island-type station with a total length of 208.6 meters and a standard section width of 19.7 meters. It is constructed using the open-cut sequential method. Since the start of construction, the station has progressed rapidly, setting a new speed record for Hefei rail transit project construction. The station's retaining piles were completed 38 days after construction began; earthwork excavation started 82 days after construction began and was completed in 55 days; the shield machine was lowered into the shaft 190 days after construction began; and the main structure of the station was topped out 198 days after construction began.

The shield machine at this station was hoisted and lowered into the shaft on May 20. To ensure the smooth launch of the shield machine, the Municipal Rail Transit Group led the participating construction units in meticulous organization and safely and efficiently completed the assembly and commissioning of the shield machine, installation of the reaction frame, assembly of the negative rings, horizontal probing holes, acceptance of launch conditions, and other work. After the successful launch, the shield machine will begin tunneling at a speed of 10 to 15 meters per day under 24-hour informatized monitoring.

Other lines under construction in the Phase III Project are also advancing rapidly. Since the start of construction, a number of construction milestones have been completed in succession. For example, the first shield machine on the southern extension of Line 3 has completed hoisting and lowering into the shaft and is about to be launched for tunneling. The main structure of the first elevated station on the southern extension of Line 4 has been topped out, and the first stations on Phase I of Line 6, Phase I of Line 7, and Phase I of Line 8 have begun excavation of the main foundation pits, among other developments.

Multiple Measures to Ensure Rapid Project Progress

Rail transit construction is an important livelihood project and carries the eager expectations of the general public. The Municipal Rail Transit Group has focused on the issues that the public is most concerned about and most eager to resolve, carried out the practical activity of "doing practical things for the people" in the study and education of Party history, and strived to benefit the people with the constantly renewed speed of rail project construction.

Since the Phase III Project started on September 29, 2020, under the strong scheduling of the Municipal Rail Transit Construction Leading Group and with the strong support of the governments of all districts (counties) and relevant municipal departments, the Municipal Rail Transit Group has transformed the results of Party history study and education into practical actions to do practical things and open new prospects. It has led the participating construction units to overcome difficulties, overcome countless obstacles with the perseverance to open roads through mountains and build bridges across rivers, properly resolve issues such as land acquisition, pipeline relocation, and traffic diversion, and adopt multiple measures to ensure construction progress.

First, plan ahead and resolve construction difficulties in advance. The Municipal Rail Transit Group arranged for the Construction Branch to sort out potential difficulties in project construction in advance, adhere to a problem-oriented approach, and actively promote coordination and resolution of problems at the construction site, including land use, relocation of power supply and other pipelines, greening relocation, and earthwork transport.

Second, strictly control and emphasize safety, quality, and progress. The owner representatives on the front line of construction of the Municipal Rail Transit Group have stayed on site, reviewed construction plans daily, emphasized standardized construction requirements on site, and strictly implemented the "six hundred percent" requirements. They have held irregular interviews with the company leaders of participating construction units regarding on-site issues and made every effort to resolve problems in on-site safe construction, resource allocation, personnel performance, and other areas.

Third, extend management and carry out special inspections every week. To consolidate responsibilities, enforce strict management, and promote work in an orderly manner, the Municipal Rail Transit Group carries out special inspections every week. Hidden dangers and problems found in inspections are resolutely closed out and rectified, which has strengthened control over participating construction units and laid the foundation for safe, orderly, and rapid progress at the construction site.

Fourth, strengthen overall planning of schedules and promote a construction boom. In light of the actual progress at the construction site, the Municipal Rail Transit Group organized and carried out a number of themed activities, including the spring offensive, labor competition, and Work Safety Month. Participating construction units refined construction plans based on actual on-site progress, reasonably set milestone targets, increased investment, made scientific scheduling, and formulated activity plans to create a vigorous construction boom.

From January to May 2021, Hefei Rail Transit Project completed a cumulative fixed investment of 5.176 billion yuan, a cumulative earthwork excavation of 1,908,391 cubic meters, a cumulative pile foundation construction of 16,338 piles, a cumulative concrete pouring of 724,604 cubic meters, and a total track laying mileage of 35.4 kilometers.

Fully Promote Shield Tunneling Construction of the Phase III Project

The Municipal Rail Transit Group will make every effort to advance shield tunneling construction on the eastern extension of Line 2, accelerate the launch of shield tunneling on the southern extension of Line 3, and make preparations for lowering and tunneling of shield machines at other subsequent stations. At the same time, it will carry out excavation of the main foundation pits of underground stations and construction of the main structures of elevated stations and elevated sections on the southern extension of Line 4, and accelerate the construction of the main retaining structures of stations on Phase I of Lines 6, 7, and 8 so as to enter the stage of main foundation pit excavation and main structure construction as soon as possible.