Recently, all six cross passages of the Guangzhou Haizhu Bay Tunnel Project were completed and connected, marking the successful completion of engineering practice for China's first domestically produced large-diameter shield tunnel cross-passage boring machine for mechanical construction, jointly developed by CRCHI, Guangzhou Communications Investment Group, China Railway 14th Bureau Group, and Xindi Energy.

Completed cross passage

A cross passage is a transverse passage set between two main tunnels, undertaking important functions such as safe evacuation, tunnel drainage, and fire protection. The shield section of the Haizhu Bay Tunnel crosses a fracture zone and passes beneath the Pearl River shipping channel. Within the 2,102-meter-long shield section, a total of six cross passages are set, with lengths ranging from 14.8 meters to 18.1 meters. The main tunnel segment is a C60 high-strength segment, the cross passages are buried at a depth of more than 45 meters, and there is a large deflection angle between the cross passages and the main tunnel. The cross-passage boring machine needs to carry out synchronous cross construction with the main tunnel shield, making the working conditions extremely complex.

Construction site

To cope with the complex engineering conditions, CRCHI independently overcame a number of key core technologies, including rapid segment breaking, multi-directional adjustment transport trolleys, high-pressure sealing, and high-precision guidance and deviation correction. Without affecting the construction of the main tunnel, the cross-passage construction was carried out synchronously, achieving one-time formation of the passage and efficient and safe construction. A single cross passage was completed and connected in as fast as only 13 days.

Sleeve reception site

It is reported that the Haizhu Bay Tunnel Project will be completed and opened to traffic this year. By then, the travel time from central urban areas such as Haizhu and Yuexiu in Guangzhou to Guangzhou South Railway Station will be shortened to 15 minutes, helping to promote interconnection within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Cross-passage boring machine rolled off the production line