Tunnelling project under Micang Mountain

Equipment from XCMG has played an important role in the excavation of a new tunnel link underneath the Micang Mountain in China. The project to build the right-hand bore for the Micang Mountain tunnel on the Sichuan-Shaanxi Expressway has taken 54 months to complete. The tunnel was needed as the Micang Mountain has been a barrier to direct transportation at the junction of Hanzhong and Bazhong. This has blocked the major transport route between Sichuan and Shaanxi, preventing traffic flows across the reg
October 15, 2018 Read time: 2 mins
Roadheaders from XCMG carried out the tunnel excavation work
Equipment from 2490 XCMG has played an important role in the excavation of a new tunnel link underneath the Micang Mountain in China.


The project to build the right-hand bore for the Micang Mountain tunnel on the Sichuan-Shaanxi Expressway has taken 54 months to complete.

The tunnel was needed as the Micang Mountain has been a barrier to direct transportation at the junction of Hanzhong and Bazhong. This has blocked the major transport route between Sichuan and Shaanxi, preventing traffic flows across the region. Now that the 13.8km long Micang Mountain Tunnel is complete, there is a direct route that will cut journey times substantially.

Now that the project is complete, this is the third longest road tunnel in the world, and the longest in China. The tunnel on the Sichuan-Shaanxi Expressway will slash the travel time for travelling around the Micang Mountain from four hours to just 30 minutes now that drivers can go directly underneath.

Inaccessibility of the site provided the biggest challenge to the construction workers as the construction work was carried out in an area that was difficult to access. However, there were many other challenges also including tropical rain, highly stressed rock conditions and high concentrations of dangerous gases.

The rare brittle rock mass in the high geostress area that the Micang Mountain Tunnel traverses has a high risk of rock bursts, landslides, fractures, cracks and even cave-ins. To maximise safety, this required real-time monitoring of the rock conditions throughout the construction operation. In addition, toxic gases released during tunnel excavation operations required workers to wear safety gear, adding to discomfort for personnel.


In order to overcome these difficulties and speed the construction work, mechanised cutting was selected as the main tunnelling method at the start of the project. XCMG’s Railway Equipment Division sent its two triple boom drilling jumbos to the project contractor: First Project Department under China Railway Engineering Group to assist in the tunneling operation. XCMG also supplied the mechanised cutting equipment that carried out the majority of the tunnel driving work. Both the drill jumbo and the roadheader machines performed reliably, despite the tough conditions, helping to ensure that the work was completed successfully.

Earthmoving & soil compaction

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Beijing airport runway features novel asphalt solution
    December 7, 2017
    Beijing ranks amongst the five busiest airports across the globe and its runway surfaces face tough stresses as a result. Over 94 million passengers flew through Beijing Capital Airport (BCA) in 2016 and as many as 70 flights/hour can take off and land during peak times. The 60m-wide middle runway of Beijing Capital International Airport is the busiest of the three runways, with a landing and take-off flight ratio of up to 40%. This runway was first rehabilitated in 1996 and then repaired in 2013 and 2015
    Read More
  • Italian highway bridge and tunnel link
    June 20, 2022
    A project in Central Italy is seeing the construction of new tunnel stretches, a bridge and a viaduct. The work is being carried out on State Road 318 by BESIX in partnership with DONATI, close to Perugia in Umbria.
    Read More
  • Dust collection can boost safety for concrete drilling
    November 8, 2017
    Enhancing safety by the use of dust collection systems for dowel pin drills - *Rob Minnich. The problem posed by silica dust is a major topic for discussion throughout the US construction industry at present. Enforcement of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) final respirable crystalline silica standard began on September 23rd, 2017, bringing the topic into the mainstream. Although it was developed to protect the health of American workers, the new rule has a much wider significance
    Read More
  • Rising to the challenge
    July 18, 2012
    Visualise today's concept of a major commercial traffic corridor in the western United States. A roadway responsible for delivering goods to Arizona, Nevada and Utah, that also connects Mexico to the United States to Canada through the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). What springs to mind? A multi-lane highway carrying thousands of vehicles a day past cities at speeds up to 113km/hour, while egress ramps make sure vehicles get safely to city streets and their final destination. This is not the c
    Read More

Highlighted Content