Tunnel construction of the Huangmao Sea Channel project has been accelerated as 62.5 percent of the excavation, 3,152 m (3,447 yd) in length, has been completed as of May 10 for the Shishan and Xiangshan Mt tunnels in the T7 section.

Shishan Mt Tunnel has completed 79.4 percent of its excavation, spanning 1,399.4 m (1530.4 yd), while tunneling work of Xiangshan Mt Tunnel is 53.4 percent done with an excavated length of 1752.6 m (1,916.7 yd).

Construction site of Xiangshan Mt Tunnel [Photo by Li Jianshu / Zhuhai Daily]

Advanced equipment like fully automatic invert hydraulic trestles, wet spraying manipulators, and an automatic production line of small tubes have been used during tunnel construction to increase efficiency, as well as to ensure the project's high-quality, according to the section's constructor China Railway 12th Bureau Group.

In addition, construction of the five main towers on the Huangmao Sea Channel and Gaolan Port bridges has been 25 percent completed, while 80 percent of the installation work of over 3,000 root piles has been finished. Work on the approach bridges and four interchanges are also underway, with the project expected to start operation in 2024.

By then, a one-hour transport circle is envisioned within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area as a sea and river channel cluster will be formulated, which consists the Huangmao Sea Channel, Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link, as well as the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao, Nansha, and Humen bridges.