Shield Construction of Suzhou Light Rail Line 1 in SIP Makes Record Progress

 

Pioneer XII shield machine is coming out of the tunnel

 

Two-way tunnel from Xinggang Street to Huachi Street and Expo Center is through

 

The comprehensive underground traffic system is taking shape

Pioneer XII shield machine came out of the tunnel at Huachi Street Station of Suzhou Light Rail Line 1 on March 8, indicating the completion of two-way underground tunnel from Xinggang Street Station to Huachi Street Station through Expo Center Station. The contractor put in two shield machines into the construction. The tunnel is 6,183.39 meters long and comes all the way through Jinji Lake. The total distance of double line underwater is 3,650.98 meters, which makes it the longest underwater tunnel in China. The thin soil layer, the long distance underwater, and the high requirements on leakage control technologies, these factors make the shield construction difficult. Starting on March 19 last year, the contractor has created three new records in the city's history of light rail shield construction with a monthly progress of 558 meters, daily progress of 30 meters, and 15.6 meters per shift.

March 9, 2010