China Railway 14th Bureau Group started building of a shield tunnel in Gusu District of Suzhou City under two high-speed railway lines, the first of its kind in China, on October 26.

The large-diameter tunnel at the Tongjing Road will greatly improve the road network, currently affected by the Nanjing-Shanghai Intercity Railway and Beijing-Shanghai Railway passing through the area. It will also boost the development of Huqiu scenic area and Shangtanghe historic block.

The progress of China's shield tunnel construction technology have made it possible to build the tunnel under the rail tracks, said Wang Xiaoqiong, a project manager of China Railway 14th Bureau Group.

The Nanjing-Shanghai Intercity Railway, with a speed up to 350 kilometers per hour, is one of the busiest lines in China, with the minimum departure interval between trains at 3 minutes. This means an exceptional challenge in construction of the tunnel, which should not cause the rail track to sink for over 1 mm.

The project, scheduled to be completed in 2022, will connect closely the southern and northern areas in the city.

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