First TBM ready for China’s sub-lake tunnel

Donghu, the first of the two slurry, water and air-balanced TBMs for the project, is in place and will dig the 3.1km section between the working shaft at Fengguang Village and the Hubei Provinical Museum.

The two 15.09m diameter TBMs, Donghu and Zhengxian, were developed by China Railway Hi-Tech Industry Co Ltd, a subsidiary of China Railway Group.

The Wuhan Two Lakes Tunnel, a road project linking South and East lakes in Central China's Hubei Province, is described as the world’s largest urban under-lake tunnel project. The 13.3km crossing will include two double-deck tunnels below the two lakes, connected by an aboveground road.

The project, scheduled for completion in 2024, is designed to ease traffic congestion in Wuchang District.