On January 30, the world’s largest-diameter vertical shaft boring machine “CREC Qiming,” jointly developed by China Railway Engineering Equipment Group, a subsidiary of China Railway Hi-Tech Industry, and China Railway Tunnel Group, successfully broke through Vertical Shaft No. 2 of the Chongtai Yangtze River Tunnel. The machine achieved the goal of starting and completing the excavation task of 56.08 meters within the same month, laying a solid foundation for the reception, secondary launch, and full breakthrough of the “CREC Linghang” shield tunneling machine in the Chongtai Yangtze River Tunnel.
Vertical Shaft No. 2 of the Chongtai Yangtze River Tunnel is located in Fuqiao Town, Taicang City, and serves as the core site for the reception and re-launch of the “CREC Linghang” shield tunneling machine. Situated only 200 meters from the southern embankment of the Yangtze River, it is a prefabricated, assembled circular shaft constructed in a riverside floodplain with ultra-deep, water-rich conditions. The shaft has a diameter of 24.0 meters and an excavation depth of 56.08 meters. With a high groundwater table and close hydraulic connection to the Yangtze River system, the geological conditions are highly complex, making construction extremely challenging and posing significant safety risks, including potential water inflow and sand gushing.
The “CREC Qiming” vertical shaft boring machine features an excavation diameter of 24 meters and a maximum excavation depth of up to 150 meters, enabling highly efficient excavation of ultra-large cross-sections in ultra-deep underwater conditions. Since its launch on January 13, “CREC Qiming,” leveraging its innovative design and outstanding performance, has successfully overcome technical challenges in ultra-deep, water-rich composite strata—often described as invisible, intangible, unmeasurable, and uncontrollable. It has demonstrated strong adaptability and stability in adverse geological sections, achieving a maximum daily advance of 4.08 meters and an average of 2.7 meters, significantly improving construction efficiency and quality and laying a solid foundation for subsequent mechanized shaft construction.
