China's most advanced drilling and blasting technology and solutions for noise reduction have allowed work to proceed smoothly on three new Banzhang Mt tunnels, signaling completion by April 2020.

A combined 688 m (752 yds) have been bored from six starting points to create two additional dual-lane tunnels and a smaller two-way slow-traffic passage. The three transits will total 3,690 m (2.3 miles). Coming spring 2020, there will be eight lanes through the mountain with a length of 1.21 km (3/4 mile) and maximum speed of 60 kmph (37 mph).

Two link roads, 305 m (333.5 yds) long and 8 m (8.74 yds) wide, will also be built along with 1.1 km (.7 mile) of street installation upgrades.

Noise suppressed

Construction engineers from China Railway Tunnel Group used digital electronic explosive detonators with only .3-cm (.12-inch) per-second blasting vibration; the national standard requires no more than 2-cm (.8-inch) per second. Sound-absorber curtains and screen doors minimized the impact on nearby residents and current traffic flow was not affected.

The project will result in more-efficient travel between New (Xin) Xiangzhou and Gongbei and greater connections between the West Wing and downtown areas, according to the Zhuhai Highway Bureau, which is overseeing the project.

Gravel removal [Photos by Zhong Fan / Zhuhai Daily]

Another tunneling project to ease traffic is also underway. The 4.8-km (3-mile) South Section of the Xingye Express Road superhighway came under construction on Dec 28. It will traverse Banzhang Mt with two three-lane tunnels to help connect Jiuzhou Avenue in Jida with Xingye Road in New Xiangzhou.