China News Service, Baoshan, Yunnan, October 1st. Title: Gaoligongshan Tunnel Continues to Fight: Constructors Solve World-Class Geological Problems with Perseverance
Author Li Kaiping Xiong Daxiao Zhao Huanhuan
During the National Day, the construction of the Gaoligongshan Tunnel, a controlled project of the Dali-Ruili Railway, continued to be difficult. More than 2,000 builders stuck to the core of the earth, used their wisdom to solve world-class geological problems, fought hard in deep mountain tunnels with sweat, and made every effort to promote project construction.
Builders work inside the tunnel. Photo courtesy of Longling Media
At the construction site of Shaft No. 1 of the Gaoligongshan Tunnel in Longling County, Baoshan City, Yunnan Province, tunnel muck is continuously transported to the surface from a depth of more than 700 meters underground.
Deng Yongjun, director of the No. 1 Shaft Working Committee of the Gaoligongshan Tunnel of the Darui Railway, said that the three underground working surfaces continued to work without interruption, and the excavation, slag removal, arching, support and other processes were seamlessly connected. More than 500 construction workers worked in 24-hour shifts to ensure the steady progress of the project construction.
Among this team of builders, Liu Yafei, the 39-year-old quality director of Shaft No. 1 of the Gaoligongshan Tunnel of the Dali-Ruili Railway, is the core backbone of the tunnel. Over the past 11 years, he has taken root at the Gaoligong Mountain Tunnel construction site, devoting his most precious youth time to the tunnel construction front line, leading the technical team to face numerous challenges, solving construction problems one by one, and ensuring the steady progress of the project.
"We have traveled through more than ten types of strata, faults, high temperatures, large deformations and other geological problems throughout the entire journey. We have experienced all the geological challenges that can be encountered in the engineering field," Liu Yafei said.
The Gaoligongshan Tunnel is a control project of the Dali-Ruili Railway. It is located in the collision suture zone between the Eurasian plate and the Indian plate. It is known as the "underground geological museum". The tunnel passes through 17 sets of complex strata, 19 active fault zones, and multiple geological risks such as high geothermal heat and high geostress are superimposed, bringing together a number of world-class geological problems.
The dispatch command center where Liu Yafei and his technical team are stationed is responsible for many key tasks such as construction progress control, safety monitoring, and in-cave operation and maintenance support for the No. 1 shaft of the Gaoligong Mountain Tunnel. It is the "brain center" of the entire shaft construction.
In order to ensure efficient uphole and underground linkage and timely emergency response, a comprehensive and multi-channel communication early warning system has been established at the construction site. "We are equipped with three sets of exclusive communication systems. The remote early warning system can realize one-click calling and one-click early warning on the working surface and cross construction areas. The intercom ensures instant communication on site. Full coverage of mobile phone signals underground enables all-weather dynamic linkage and solves online problems in a timely manner." Liu Yafei said that the three sets of communication systems are layered to build a safe barrier for efficient linkage and rapid disposal of underground construction.
Tunnel waste is transported to the surface. Photo courtesy of Longling Media
Day after day, Liu Yafei and his technical team traveled between the 765-meter underground working surface and the ground command center, paying close attention to real-time underground data, accurately scheduling construction, investigating safety hazards, and ensuring the orderly progress of tunnel construction in an all-round way.
The construction environment of the tunnel was difficult and complex, and there were many challenges. However, the builders stuck to their posts, faced the difficulties, and overcame world-class problems with hard work.
Deng Yongjun introduced that among the more than 500 builders in the shaft work area, more than one-third are young people under the age of 35. They have widely taken root in key positions such as construction technology and production management, and have become the backbone of project construction. This group of young builders from all over the world voluntarily gave up their vacations, stayed in the mountains all year round, and made the tunnel their home, demonstrating the responsibility and responsibility of builders in the new era on the front line.
Xin Ziheng, a young technician from Baoding, Hebei Province, is a typical representative of the youth construction team. Staying away from his hometown and taking root in the tunnels all year round, he always sticks to his post, improves his skills, works hard on the details, and moves forward bravely in tackling difficulties.
"As the backbone of young people, the more we persist and the more diligent we are, the more confidence and progress we will have in project construction. No matter how complex the geological conditions are and how arduous the construction tasks are, our youth team has the confidence and determination to tackle all the hard bones." Xin Ziheng expressed the sincerity and responsibility of young builders.
As an important part of the China-Myanmar International Corridor, once the Dali-Ruili Railway is fully opened to traffic, it will further improve the railway transportation network in western Yunnan and empower high-quality development of the local economy. (over)
