Banzhang Mt fast-slow passageways soon underway

The boring of three more tunnels through Banzhang Mt will commence this spring, further linking New Xiangzhou and Gongbei.

A site-clearing notice for the 74,220-sq-m construction sites was published by the Xiangzhou District government on Jan 18. The project is being overseen by the city Highway Bureau and built by Zhuhai Urban Construction Real Estate Development Co.

The current north-south two-lane tunnels will be flanked by new two-lane channels -- all restricted to motor vehicles. The roadway additions will be 1.21 km long with designated speeds of up to 60 kmph. Considered safe transits, the motor-vehicle tunnels will be 12.4-m wide, which is standard for main urban roads.

A smaller two-way slow-traffic tunnel to the west side of the mountain will be 10 m across, wide enough for both cyclists and pedestrians. 

Rendering of Banzhang Mt Tunnels [Photo courtesy Zhuhai Daily]

Lanes will start from the intersection of North Yingbin and West Renmin roads in the north, and access South Yingbin Road and Jiuzhou Avenue in the south.

Costing 240 million yuan ($35 million), work will involve tunneling, fire control, hazard prevention, landscaping, greening, and illumination engineering. Monitoring and ventilation systems will be upgraded with improved management and maintenance.

At the same time, two link roads will be constructed, 305 m long and 8 m wide at each ending of a renovated 1.1-km municipal road to guide the traffic flow into the new tunnel entrance.

Despite taking up some urban green space, the project won't harm public interest, said a project head. He added that Tongxin Park in the neighborhood will be occupied temporarily but be restored to its original appearance, and that the park next to Jinxiu Ningxi Community will only lose a small area as it will be included in the scope of the project.

Construction is to commence in the first half of the year. The project is listed among the major tasks for 2018 in the work report delivered during the 2nd Session of the 9th Zhuhai Municipal People's Congress this month.

The Banzhang MT Tunnel opened to traffic on Nov 28, 1990. At a length of 1,210 m, it was the longest urban highway tunnel in the country at the time.

The original tunnel greatly shortened the distance between Gongbei and Xiangzhou and accelerated development of the urban core area, but has met its capacity ceiling with rapidly increasing demands in recent years.