After 1,235 days of dedicated effort, at around 10:00 a.m. on January 15, the Qinling Taixingshan Tunnel—the longest and most challenging section of the Xi’an-Ankang High-Speed Railway, constructed by China Railway No.3 Engineering Group—was completed, 45 days ahead of schedule.
The Qinling Taixingshan Tunnel is located in Chang’an District, Xi’an City, with a total length of 18.83 kilometers. It is a twin-bore single-track tunnel with a maximum burial depth of 1,298 meters. The tunnel traverses 13.4 kilometers of moderate rockburst zones, four major deep faults, and ten secondary faults. At its deepest point, the rock temperature reaches up to 33 degrees Celsius, making it a high-risk, primary control-level tunnel.
During construction, the project team actively pursued technological innovation, applying new techniques and equipment. They implemented advanced methods such as pre-geological forecasting and energy-concentrated smooth blasting. Additionally, 18 innovative tools and techniques, including arch bridge edge protection and embedded channel positioning, were introduced, resulting in seven utility model patents and four invention patents. By innovating the angled and straight-hole long-cut blasting method, excavation efficiency increased by 25%, significantly reducing construction time.
