新春走基层｜在海底守护“钢铁巨龙”

Core Viewpoint - The Ningbo-Zhoushan underwater tunnel, a key project of the Ningbo-Zhoushan Railway, is under construction, utilizing advanced shield tunneling technology to connect Ningbo and Zhoushan, significantly reducing travel time between the two cities to just 26 minutes upon completion [1][3]. Group 1: Project Overview - The total length of the Jin Tang underwater tunnel is 16.18 kilometers, with the shield section measuring 11.21 kilometers [2]. - The construction employs two shield machines starting from both Ningbo and Zhoushan sides, working towards each other for precise underwater connection [2]. - The project aims to end the historical lack of high-speed rail connectivity to Zhoushan [2]. Group 2: Technical Challenges - The Ningbo side of the shield section must navigate high water pressure and various complex geological layers, facing 24 significant transitions between soft and hard strata [2]. - Each meter of tunneling results in wear on the shield machine's tools, necessitating frequent replacements; 46 tools were replaced recently, each weighing 400 pounds [2]. - A total of nearly 3,000 worn-out tools have been replaced, enough to cover three basketball courts [2]. Group 3: Progress and Operations - The "Yongzhou" shield machine has successfully completed 12 geological transitions and navigated 43 risk sources, with expectations to achieve underwater connection by the end of this year [3]. - In a recent 24-hour period, the shield machine advanced 6 meters and assembled 30 segments of tunnel lining, successfully completing its daily tunneling tasks [3].