China just took tunnel digging to the next level! 🇨🇳🚀 On Thursday, the Chinese mainland unveiled its largest self-developed tunnel-boring machine, and it's nothing short of a mechanical marvel.
This gigantic machine, capable of excavating tunnels up to 16.64 meters in diameter, was built in Changsha, Hunan Province. It's the result of an epic collaboration between China Railway Construction Heavy Industry Co., Ltd. (CRCHI) and China Railway 14th Bureau Group Co., Ltd.
Imagine a cutterhead the size of a five or six-story building—that's how big it is! 🏢 At 145 meters long and weighing a whopping 5,000 tonnes, this machine is set to revolutionize tunnel construction. According to CRCHI chairman Zhao Hui, it's a major leap forward in China's ability to produce large-diameter tunnel-boring technology domestically.
But what's the mission for this beast of a machine? It's headed to the Yangtze River, where it will tackle a massive tunneling project beneath the riverbed. The goal is to create a major trans-river road link between Nantong and Taicang in Jiangsu Province. 🌉
Once this project is complete, it's expected to supercharge road networks and support integrated development in the Yangtze River Delta. That means better regional connectivity and a boost to economic growth—a game-changer for the area! 🚗💨
With this engineering feat, China continues to push the boundaries of what's possible, blending innovation with ambition. We can't wait to see this mega-machine in action! 🤩
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
