Huan Qiu Wang·2025-06-16 15:19Core Points - The Tianshan Shengli Tunnel's second vertical shaft, the world's deepest expressway shaft at 707 meters, has successfully reached its final depth, marking a significant achievement in infrastructure development [1][13][17] - The project utilized the "Shouchuang" vertical tunnel boring machine (TBM), which is the world's first designed for extreme cold and high altitude conditions, showcasing China's advanced engineering capabilities [15][17][20] - The live broadcast of the event attracted over 18 million views domestically and nearly 3.81 million internationally, highlighting the global interest in China's infrastructure projects [3][10][20] Summary by Category Project Details - The Tianshan Shengli Tunnel is part of the G0711 line project, with a total length of 22.1 kilometers, and includes four vertical shafts for ventilation, with the second shaft located at an altitude of 3660 meters [13][17] - The construction faced extreme conditions, including temperatures dropping below -40 degrees Celsius and rock strength exceeding 200 MPa, necessitating innovative engineering solutions [13][15] Technological Innovations - The "Shouchuang" TBM, weighing approximately 1100 tons and measuring about 24 meters in length, integrates advanced drilling techniques that minimize disturbance to the rock and allow for unmanned operations [15][17] - This project represents a breakthrough in large-diameter vertical shaft construction technology, filling a gap in China's underground engineering capabilities [17] Public Engagement and Media Coverage - The live streaming event was widely covered, with participation from various media outlets and social media platforms, reaching a total of over 3 billion followers across different channels [3][10][20] - International viewers expressed admiration for the engineering feat, with comments highlighting the impressive nature of the project and hopes to witness it in person [20][36]