On November 23, at the Anle River estuary on the right bank of the Han River in Danjiangkou City, good news again came from the excavation of the main water conveyance tunnel of the outlet section of the Yangtze-to-Han River Water Diversion Project undertaken by Sinohydro Bureau 5 Co., Ltd. Through the unremitting efforts and continuous hard work of the project team, the excavation length of the main water conveyance tunnel successfully surpassed the 3,000-meter mark, marking major phased progress in the construction of this national key water conservancy project.

The Yangtze-to-Han River Water Diversion Project is the first project to start construction under the follow-up works of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project. It is an important landmark project for comprehensively advancing the high-quality development of the follow-up works of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project and accelerating the construction of the main framework and major arteries of the national water network.

As an important component of the national water resource allocation strategy, the main water conveyance tunnel of the Yangtze-to-Han River Water Diversion Project undertakes a crucial water conveyance task. The construction quality and progress of the tunnel are directly related to the success or failure of the entire project.

Since the start of the project, the project team has faced multiple challenges, including complex and changeable geological conditions, a high-risk construction environment, and organizational coordination. The geological structure in the construction area is complex, with fault zones and shallow-buried areas throughout. The rock mass in the mica schist intercalated with quartz schist area is fractured, and the contact at the lithologic interface is poor, making collapse accidents highly likely. At the same time, high-strength diabase layers and areas with developed joints have also brought many difficulties to drilling and blasting construction, seriously threatening the overall construction safety of the main tunnel.

Facing numerous difficulties, the Yangtze-to-Han River Water Diversion Project team of Sinohydro Bureau 5 Co., Ltd. did not retreat. Project staff rose to the challenge, carried out scientific planning and meticulous organization, and continuously optimized construction plans and technical methods.

In response to the characteristics of large-section drilling and blasting construction, the project team introduced advanced equipment such as fully computerized three-boom rock drilling jumbos and hydraulic invert trestles, and built a mechanized operation line integrating "exploration, excavation, support, and lining," greatly improving construction efficiency and quality. At the same time, the project team also adopted various advanced geological forecasting methods and a construction process combining "large pipe roof + grouting small pipes" inside the tunnel, effectively addressing the challenges brought by complex geological conditions.

The excavation length of the main tunnel exceeding 3,000 meters this time not only reflects the outstanding technical strength and strong construction capability of the Sinohydro Bureau 5 Co., Ltd. project team, but also bears witness to its deep understanding and resolute implementation of the national water resource strategic layout. The achievement of this important milestone has laid a solid foundation for the subsequent construction of the Yangtze-to-Han River Water Diversion Project.

It is understood that the water conveyance tunnel in the outlet section of the Yangtze-to-Han River Water Diversion Project has a total length of 5,085 meters, a water passage tunnel diameter of 10 meters, a maximum burial depth of 209 meters, and a minimum burial depth of only 34 meters where it crosses the Liangyun fault zone, featuring the construction characteristics of large burial depth and large tunnel diameter. For this reason, the project team for the outlet section of the Yangtze-to-Han River Water Diversion Project of Sinohydro Bureau 5 Co., Ltd. will continue to carry forward the spirit of unity, collaboration, and overcoming difficulties, continuously optimize construction plans and technical methods, and ensure that tunnel excavation is completed safely, efficiently, and smoothly, thereby providing a strong water security guarantee for building the national backbone water network and advancing Chinese-style modernization.

The Yangtze-to-Han River Water Diversion Project has a total length of 194.7 kilometers. It diverts water from the Three Gorges Reservoir area of the Yangtze River into the Han River, with the endpoint located at the Anle River estuary on the right bank of the Han River downstream of the Danjiangkou Reservoir Dam. The project started construction on July 7, 2022. It plays an important role in fully leveraging the water conveyance potential of the middle route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project, enhancing the water resource allocation capacity of the Han River Basin, and further improving the water supply stability of the northern water-receiving areas. It is an important step in building the national water network during the 14th Five-Year Plan period. After the project is completed, it will realize a long-distance "handshake" between two major national heavy weapons, the Three Gorges Project and the South-to-North Water Diversion Project.