Another good news about the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Channel project came after the construction of West Artificial Island progressed smoothly. It is learned from the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Channel Administration Center that the construction design of the immersed tunnel, water works and relevant projects have passed the expert review on October 16 and will be submitted to the Department of Transportation of Guangdong Province for deliberation. This means the main body of the world’s first two-way eight-lane undersea immersed tunnel will begin construction soon. 

“It will be the first time in the world that mass application of steel-shelled concrete immersed tunnel structure undertaken in the world in the 6.8km ultra long two-way eight-lane immersed tunnel of the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Channel.” Said Song Shenyou, general engineer of Shenzhen-Zhongshan Channel Administration Center.

The reporter learned that there is no precedence in the world of the construction of two-way eight-lane undersea immersed tunnel. Each standard pipe section of the domestic initiative steel-shelled concrete immersed tunnel structure is in size of 46×10.6×165 meters. The mass application of this structure will lead to huge technical challenges.

The East Artificial Island and the main body part of the tunnel will begin construction by the end of this year, which means the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Channel project will enter into full construction stage. The bridge part of the channel is expected to begin construction in March of 2018. The whole channel is planned to open to traffic in 2024.