Notable progress have been made on Qingdao's second Jiaozhou Bay tunnel, also known as the Qingdao Second Submarine Tunnel, with over 570 meters excavated. The shield tunneling machine is transitioning from the soil excavation phase to the rock excavation phase, preparing to face the most demanding 2,645-meter section of solid rock along the tunnel's alignment.
This major infrastructure project, set to be 17.48 kilometers in length, is not only a critical traffic artery for Qingdao West Coast New Area but also an engineering feat expected to claim five world records upon completion.
These records include the largest-scale undersea highway tunnel in construction, the longest undersea highway tunnel, the largest cross-section undersea tunnel crossing large faults, the highest water pressure large-diameter shield tunnel, and the first large-diameter shield tunnel to dock with a large cross-section drill and blast tunnel in the sea.
The second Jiaozhou Bay tunnel represents a monumental step forward in Qingdao's infrastructure development. [Photo/WeChat account: aishangxihaian]
A worker employed in the underwater construction efforts for the Qingdao Second Submarine Tunnel. [Photo/WeChat account: aishangxihaian]
The tunnel's completion will significantly enhance transportation links between Qingdao's main urban area and Qingdao West Coast New Area, fostering better connectivity and economic integration in the region.