The subsea shield tunnel in Zhanjiang Bay, one of the most important components in the Guangzhou-Zhanjiang High-speed Railway project, began its construction on June 30.

The railway is the longest and the most invested high-speed railway project in Guangdong province. It totals a length of about 401 kilometers, and has an investment of 99.8 billion yuan ($14.11 billion), of which 19.34 billion yuan has been allocated for the construction of the Zhanjiang section of the railway.

The rail track starts from Guangzhou Railway Station and ends at Zhanjiang North Railway Station after passing through Foshan, Zhaoqing, Yunfu, Yangjiang, and Maoming. It will have a designed speed limit of 350 km per hour.

The tunnel is set to be 9,640 meters long, of which 928 meters is open-cut and 7,352 meters is shield tunneling. It will be the nation's longest large diameter shield tunnel through the sea constructed through blind heading.

According to Gao Shijun, the project's chief engineer, using the subsea tunnel can minimize the impact on the urban landscape, as well as minimize the project's influence on the marine ecological environment and waterways.

In addition, Zhanjiang is a place with a high incidence of strong typhoons. The subsea tunnel has more advantages, such as safety and reliability, added Gao.

Construction of the railway will last for five years until 2024. After completion, it will shorten the travel time from Guangzhou's downtown area to Zhanjiang's downtown area to less than 1.5 hours, bringing great convenience for people in western Guangdong.

The railway will also be integrated into the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, improving the regional economic status of western Guangdong and advancing the overall socio-economic development of Zhanjiang.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the subsea shield tunnel in Zhanjiang Bay, one of the most important components in the Guangzhou-Zhanjiang High-speed Railway project, is held on June 30. [Photo by Lang Shuchen and Liu Jicheng/Zhanjiang Daily]