Digging starts on tunnel to relieve Hongqiao congestion
China's largest digging shield, with a diameter of 14.45 meters, began work 26 meters underground. The project is due to be completed in 2019.
Work began on Tuesday on a new tunnel in Hongqiao to relieve congestion around the National Exhibition and Convention Center.
A giant digging shield, with a 14.45-meter diameter — the biggest in China — began working 26 meters underground at 10am, according to the construction firm, Shanghai Municipal Investment Highway.
The 2.8-kilometer Zhuguang Road Tunnel, with four lanes in each direction and designed for a driving speed of 40 kilometers an hour, will connect the Beiqing Expressway in Minhang District and the Songze Elevated highway in Qingpu District.
When completed in 2019, the tunnel will become a major traffic channel for central and western Hongqiao.
The tunnel is expected to relieve congestion on the Yan’an Road Elevated Highway, which handles most vehicles to and from the world’s largest single-building exhibition complex as well as the Hongqiao Business Zone.
