The Immersed Tube Smart Plant for the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Bridge was put into operation on June 5. [Photo by Miao Xiaojian]

The Immersed Tube Smart Plant for the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Bridge, which is located in Niutou Island, Zhuhai, was officially put into operation on June 5.

"Here used to be the immersed tube prefabrication plant for Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. We have spent 11 months completing the intelligent reconstruction according to the project structure and production requirements of the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Bridge," said Yang Fulin, an engineer of the Island and Tunnel Engineering Department of the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Bridge Management Center.

After the opening ceremony, this largest precast immersed tube plant in the world, with an investment of more than 1 billion yuan, started to undertake the mission to prefabricate 22  immersed tube sections for the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Bridge project. All the work is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2022.

It is reported that the steel cases for the 22 immersed tube sections will be manufactured at the factory in Longxue Island of Nansha District, Guangzhou, transported to Niutou Island for concrete pouring and outfitting, and shipped to the bridge site for immersion with the self-developed special floating transportation and installation ships.

At present, the immersed tube tunnel project for the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Bridge is in smooth progress. The first immersed tube section is scheduled to be installed later this year.