WTC 2024 | TUNNELLING IN CHINA


WTC2024 IN SHENZHEN, CHINA


In 2024, it will be 34 years since the WTC1990 was held in Chengdu, China. As mentioned earlier in this article, during the past three decades numerous tunnels have been constructed in China, and various innovations have been developed to find better solutions for tunnel projects. In the process, the Chinese tunnelling industry has received significant support from the international tunnelling community through the ITA platform. Experience gained from projects worldwide, new technologies, advanced equipment and materials have all played crucial roles in the construction of a large number of tunnel projects in China, especially those in challenging conditions. In return, the Chinese tunnelling industry has also shared with the international tunnelling community its experience with intensive construction of various types of tunnels in different conditions. Undoubtedly, WTC2024 will be the best place and time to learn about what the Chinese tunnelling industry has accomplished over these three decades.


Under the theme of ‘Tunnelling for a Better Life’ and with 21 subtopics, WTC2024 has received around 1,000 abstracts from the tunnelling community worldwide, and 792 abstracts have been accepted by the Technical Committee. There will be five parallel Technical Sessions instead of four, as in previous WTC events. Many high-quality technical papers from China will cover innovations, state of the art of different tunnelling methods (conventional, D&B, mechanised, immersed tube, etc.,), solutions to challenging conditions, new equipment and materials, and more. In particular, some Technical Sessions will focus on large tunnel projects under construction or newly built, with a special emphasis has been placed on having many large tunnelling projects in Shenzhen and its vicinity available for Technical Site Visits. These are:


1. Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link Immersed Tunnel (See Figures 7 & 8):


● Length: 6.8km ● Structure: Steel outer shell + concrete ● Dimensions: 46m wide, 10.6m high ● Notable Feature: The current world’s largest immersed tunnel of its kind.


● Project Timeline: Started in April 2018, expected to be open for traffic in June 2024.


2. Pearl River Estuary Tunnel of Shenzhen-Jiangmen Railway:


● Length: 13.69km ● Construction Methods: Conventional and two TBMs (diameter: 13.32m)


● Project Timeline: Construction began in July 2020, expected to be completed in December 2025.


3. Shenzhen Metro Line 14 (including Huangmugang Integrated Station):


● Line Length: 50.34km (Phase 1) ● Stations: 18 (all underground) ● Train Type: 8-car Type A, automated driverless technology, max speed 120 km/h


● Notable Feature: Huangmugang station designed as an ‘Urban living room’.


● Project Timeline: Construction started in January 2018, operational since October 2022.


4. Qianhai Integrated Transport Hub, Shenzhen (Large- scale Underground Integrated Transport Hub):


● Lines Involved: Three metro lines (Lines 1, 5, & 11), two intercity railways


● Area: 20 hectares ● Floor Area: Approximately 2.159 million square metres ● Notable Feature: Underground hub with extensive surface properties.


5. Guangzhou-Dongguan-Shenzhen Intercity Railway (TBM Tunnel Project):


● Designed Speed: 160km/h ● Length: 14.5km ● TBM Method: Mainly being constructed using 13.27m dia. TBM ● Project Timeline: Construction started in 2021, expected completion in 2026.


● Note: Complex geological conditions and a sensitive environment add challenges to this central Shenzhen project.


6. Shatin Caverns, Hong Kong - Relocation of Sha Tin Sewage Treatment Works:


● Notable Feature: Largest caverns of their type ever built in Hong Kong.


● Dimensions: Span up to 32m, height up to 28m. ● Project Timeline: Construction commenced in February 2019, expected completion in 2031.


● Note: Project initiated by the Drainage Services Department to support sustainable development in Hong Kong, following public engagement and consultation.


7. Trunk Road T2 and Cha Kwo Ling Tunnel, Hong Kong: ● Two 14m-dia.TBMs concurrently utilised for the 3.4km-long dual two-lane trunk roads for Trunk Road T2


● Innovative technologies: accessible TBM cutterhead, real-time monitoring of disc cutters, and AI-supported tunnel drone inspection.


● Largest sizes of caverns in Cha Kwo Ling rock tunnels range from 20m to 30m in width and 10m to 15m in height.


● Part of the Route 6 which is going to be a strategic transport route that substantially helps reduce the current journey time between Yau Ma Tei and Tseung Kwan O.


WTC2024 will provide participants with opportunities to visit these interesting and challenging projects, and also learn about others (see Box Panel-2).


22 | December 2023


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