Blasting and excavation work completed in the preliminary excavation area of the new channel of the Three Gorges Project

China News Service, Yichang, September 30 (Guo Xiaoying, Dong Xiaobin, Qin Mingshuo) With the smooth launch of the "last blast", all blasting and excavation operations were completed on the 30th in the preliminary excavation area of ​​the new channel of the Three Gorges Hub as a construction preparation test project, creating favorable conditions for the subsequent relocation of high-voltage transmission lines and the comprehensive construction of the main ship lock project.

The Three Gorges Water Transport New Channel Project is the largest comprehensive project on the Yangtze River trunk line after the Three Gorges Project that integrates water conservancy, shipping, ecological and other functions. It consists of two parts: the Three Gorges Hub New Channel and the Gezhouba Shipping Capacity Expansion. Among them, the new channel of the Three Gorges Hub is located on the north side of the existing Three Gorges ship lock, and it is planned to build a new double-line continuous five-level ship lock. After completion, the Three Gorges Hub will form a four-line ship lock plus ship lift structure, with a total annual two-way throughput capacity of 336 million tons.

The preliminary excavation area is the section at the end of the approach channel upstream of the new channel of the Three Gorges Hub. As the pilot section for the independent implementation of the project, the pilot excavation area simultaneously undertakes the dual missions of project implementation and technical testing, and is called the "advance team" of the new channel of the Three Gorges Hub.

The advance excavation area is a giant comprehensive testing ground with complete functions. During the nearly one-year construction process, the construction unit conducted all-factor practical tests on construction organization, resource allocation, safety control and quality acceptance, and accumulated on-site experience for subsequent large-scale, standardized construction.

According to reports, the 935-meter upstream approach channel working surface that was first completed in the pilot excavation area has a bottom elevation of 137.5 meters and will be used exclusively as a new corridor for the relocation of part of the high-voltage transmission lines. After the relocation of the line is completed, construction safety restrictions in some original areas will be lifted, creating prerequisites for subsequent high-intensity blasting operations in the main project.

The reporter learned from the Three Gorges New Corridor Company that the successful completion of blasting and excavation operations in the advance excavation area has laid a solid foundation for the entire new corridor project in terms of technology, equipment, and management. All the measured data and construction experience accumulated will be used throughout the entire subsequent construction process to provide solid support for the high-quality construction of the project.