This aerial photo taken on Jan. 30, 2023 shows immersed tube E23 of Shenzhen-Zhongshan highway underwater tunnel and a vessel for its transport and installation at an immersed tube smart factory of CCCC Fourth Harbour Engineering Co., Ltd. on Niutou Island, Zhuhai, south China's Guangdong Province. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei)
ZHUHAI, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- The prefabrication of E23, the last immersed tube (non-standard tube, including the final joint) of an underwater tunnel, a section of highway linking Shenzhen and Zhongshan in south China's Guangdong, was completed on Tuesday. After being poured concrete, the 164.5-meter steel-shelled tube weighs about 80,000 tonnes.
With a total length of 6,845 meters, the underwater tunnel consists of 5,035-meter-long prefabricated immersed tubes, including 32 ones and a final joint.
The Shenzhen-Zhongshan highway, which is scheduled to open to traffic in 2024, is expected to cut the travel time between the two cities from two hours to about 20 minutes.
A staff member maintains a device loading immersed tube E23 of Shenzhen-Zhongshan highway underwater tunnel at an immersed tube smart factory of CCCC Fourth Harbour Engineering Co., Ltd. on Niutou Island, Zhuhai, south China's Guangdong Province, Jan. 30, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei)
Staff members prepare the outfitting of immersed tube E23 of Shenzhen-Zhongshan highway underwater tunnel at an immersed tube smart factory of CCCC Fourth Harbour Engineering Co., Ltd. on Niutou Island, Zhuhai, south China's Guangdong Province, Jan. 30, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei)
Staff members manipulate a machine to pour concrete to immersed tube E23 of Shenzhen-Zhongshan highway underwater tunnel at an immersed tube smart factory of CCCC Fourth Harbour Engineering Co., Ltd. on Niutou Island, Zhuhai, south China's Guangdong Province, Jan. 30, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei)
Staff members check immersed tube E23 of Shenzhen-Zhongshan highway underwater tunnel at an immersed tube smart factory of CCCC Fourth Harbour Engineering Co., Ltd. on Niutou Island, Zhuhai, south China's Guangdong Province, Jan. 31, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei)
This aerial photo taken on Jan. 30, 2023 shows immersed tube E23 of Shenzhen-Zhongshan highway underwater tunnel at an immersed tube smart factory of CCCC Fourth Harbour Engineering Co., Ltd. on Niutou Island, Zhuhai, south China's Guangdong Province. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei)
A staff member maintains a device loading immersed tube E23 of Shenzhen-Zhongshan highway underwater tunnel at an immersed tube smart factory of CCCC Fourth Harbour Engineering Co., Ltd. on Niutou Island, Zhuhai, south China's Guangdong Province, Jan. 30, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei)
Staff members prepare the outfitting of immersed tube E23 of Shenzhen-Zhongshan highway underwater tunnel at an immersed tube smart factory of CCCC Fourth Harbour Engineering Co., Ltd. on Niutou Island, Zhuhai, south China's Guangdong Province, Jan. 30, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei)
A staff member lays out pipelines before pouring concrete to immersed tube E23 of Shenzhen-Zhongshan highway underwater tunnel at an immersed tube smart factory of CCCC Fourth Harbour Engineering Co., Ltd. on Niutou Island, Zhuhai, south China's Guangdong Province, Jan. 31, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei)
Staff members lay out pipelines before pouring concrete to immersed tube E23 of Shenzhen-Zhongshan highway underwater tunnel at an immersed tube smart factory of CCCC Fourth Harbour Engineering Co., Ltd. on Niutou Island, Zhuhai, south China's Guangdong Province, Jan. 31, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei)■
