China’s advanced tunneling tech powers the Chongtai Yangtze River Tunnel, the world’s fastest underwater tunnel and a key link in the Shanghai-Chongqing-Chengdu Railway.
China’s advanced intelligent shield tunneling technology has achieved a breakthrough with its application in the Chongtai Yangtze River Tunnel, a major component of the Shanghai-Chongqing-Chengdu High-Speed Railway project.
Utilizing the Shield Tunnel Intelligent Construction V2.0 system, itegrated with the cutting-edge “Pioneer” shield machine, the project has enhanced construction speed and quality after covering more than 2,000 meters of excavation.
The Chongtai Yangtze River Tunnel, designed to accommodate speeds of 350 km/h, stands as the fastest underwater tunnel globally. Spanning 14.25 kilometers, it features a shielded section stretching 13.20 kilometers.
This landmark tunnel is managed by Shanghai-Hangzhou High-Speed Railway Passenger Transport Co., Ltd. and exclusively constructed by the China Railway Tunnel Group (CRTG). Its innovative single-hole double-track structure boasts a shield diameter of 15.4 meters and an outer segment diameter of 14.8 meters, making it the largest high-speed rail shield tunnel in the world.
Located beneath the deepest section of the Yangtze River, the tunnel withstands a maximum water pressure of 0.9 MPa and links Chongming District in Shanghai to Taicang City in Jiangsu Province.
With an unparalleled single-head excavation length of 11.325 kilometers, the project integrates nine cutting-edge intelligent construction technologies, covering areas such as intelligent sensing, design, prefabrication, excavation, installation, and environmental management. Additionally, an automated intelligent factory has been established to produce shield tunnel and arc segments, introducing China’s first arc segment production line.
The fully intelligent “Pioneer” shield machine has now excavated over 2,600 meters, operating autonomously within the Yangtze River knifefish germplasm resource protection zone, ensuring safe and stable progress with minimal human intervention.
As a critical segment of China’s “eight vertical and eight horizontal” high-speed railway network, the Shanghai-Chongqing-Chengdu High-Speed Railway will benefit immensely from the Chongtai Yangtze River Tunnel. Upon completion, high-speed trains will cross the Yangtze River at full speed for the first time, establishing a high-speed connection between the Shanghai and Nanjing metropolitan regions. This milestone supports the national “Belt and Road” initiative, enhances the railway network across the Yangtze River, and accelerates the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta region.
