Main construction starts on two 15 km Tianshan tunnels of the G3033 expressway
In short
Main construction began on October 9 on the Kezayi (克扎依) and Yuximolegai (玉希莫勒盖) tunnels, the key control works of the G3033 Kuitun-Dushanzi-Kuqa Expressway, CCTV News reported. The two tunnels cross the northern Tianshan and are 15.025 km and 15.493 km long. Once the roughly 393 km expressway is complete, travel between the north and south of the Tianshan is expected to be possible all year in all weather, with travel time cut from about 14 hours to 4, the report said.
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Main construction began on October 9 on the Kezayi and Yuximolegai tunnels of the G3033 Kuitun-Dushanzi-Kuqa Expressway, CCTV News reported, according to Jiemian, IT Home and 36Kr. Tunnelling began on both tunnels, which the report called the key control works of the whole line. The two tunnels, each about 15 km long, cross the northern section of the Tianshan and were described as an "underground artery" linking its north and south. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The Kezayi Tunnel, in Ili prefecture, is 15.025 km long with a maximum depth of about 1,652 metres. The Yuximolegai Tunnel, which spans Ili and Bazhou prefectures, is 15.493 km long with a maximum depth of about 1,355 metres. Both cross the main ridge of the Tianshan, where winter temperatures can reach minus 40 degrees Celsius. According to the report, geological conditions are extremely complex: the tunnels pass through more than 20 fracture zones, with adverse geological conditions including rock bursts, large deformation of soft rock, high-pressure water inflow and harmful gases. [ 1 , 2 ]
The two tunnels have seven inclined shafts at four sites, used to open working faces on the main bores and speed up construction, together with fully mechanised drill-and-blast excavation. Song Wenzheng (宋文政), commander of the expressway's Tianzhong resident headquarters (天中驻地指挥部), said the project combines fully mechanised equipment with large models for advance geological assessment and intelligent blast design, and links equipment data to build an intelligent construction system. [ 1 , 2 ]
The expressway starts in Kuitun, where it connects with the G30 Lianhuo Expressway, passes through Dushanzi, Wusu, Nilka (尼勒克), Xinyuan (新源), Hejing (和静) and Kuqa, and ends in Kuqa, where it connects with the G3012 Turpan-Hotan (吐和) Expressway. It is being built as a two-way, four-lane expressway about 393 km long. The report described it as the road project with the largest single investment and highest technical difficulty among those under construction in China. Once the line is complete, travel between the north and south of the Tianshan is expected to be possible all year in all weather, with travel time cut from about 14 hours to 4, the report said. [ 1 , 2 ]
Why it matters
The report described the two tunnels as the key control works of the expressway. According to the report, the completed road would allow year-round, all-weather travel between the north and south of the Tianshan and cut travel time from about 14 hours to 4.
Key facts
- On October 9, tunnelling began on the Kezayi and Yuximolegai tunnels and main construction formally started. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The Kezayi Tunnel, in Ili prefecture (伊犁州), is 15.025 km long with a maximum depth of about 1,652 metres. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The Yuximolegai Tunnel spans Ili and Bazhou (巴州) prefectures, is 15.493 km long and has a maximum depth of about 1,355 metres. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The tunnels cross more than 20 fracture zones, with adverse geological conditions including rock bursts, large deformation of soft rock, high-pressure water inflow and harmful gases; winter temperatures can reach minus 40 degrees Celsius. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The two tunnels have seven inclined shafts at four sites, used to open working faces on the main bores. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The G3033 expressway runs about 393 km from Kuitun to Kuqa and is being built as a two-way, four-lane expressway. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Travel time between the north and south of the Tianshan is expected to fall from about 14 hours to 4 once the expressway is complete. [ 1 , 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Nothing is confirmed by two independent outlets yet.
Still unclear
- When the tunnels and the expressway will be completed. None of the reports gives a completion date.
- The cost of the project. The reports say it has the largest single investment among road projects under construction in China but give no figure.
- Independent detail beyond the CCTV News report. All three outlets attribute their coverage to CCTV News.
- Main construction on the Kezayi and Yuximolegai tunnels started on October 9. Reported by a single source so far
- The two tunnels, each about 15 km long, cross the northern Tianshan and are the key control works of the G3033 expressway. Reported by a single source so far
- The Kezayi Tunnel is 15.025 km long and the Yuximolegai Tunnel 15.493 km long. Reported by a single source so far
- The expressway is about 393 km long and is expected to cut travel time from about 14 hours to 4. Reported by a single source so far