By rosebell
As a critical part of China’s Lincang-Qingshuihe Expressway (Linqing Expressway) in Yunnan Province, the left line of the Wangjiazhai Tunnel was completed in previous month.
The responsibility of advancing this project is up to China Railway Tunnel Group and March 2018 was the date of commencing construction of the challenging 8km left line.
Considering that the tunnel’s geological conditions include tertiary water-rich semi-consolidated rock, characterised by poor cementation, it will cause extremely soft rock, high saturation, desiccation cracking, poor water stability, and a high risk of disturbances causing sand collapses, mud outbursts, and soil flow.
The 2.3km geological zone on the Linxiang side was the most challenging section and the company said tunneling felt akin to digging through a sponge.
