en.Wedoany.com Report, On March 28, 2026, the right line of the Qingshi Tunnel on the S20 Jiayuguan-Ruoqiang Expressway (Jiaruo Expressway), primarily invested in and constructed by Gansu Public Transport Construction Group, was successfully holed through, becoming the first tunnel completed along the entire route. The completion of this tunnel project marks a phased breakthrough in the overall construction, laying a solid foundation for subsequent engineering progress.
The Qingshi Tunnel is located in the Qilian Mountain area south of Chijin Town, Jiuquan City. It is a separated double-bore medium-length rock tunnel, with the right line measuring 655 meters and the left line 653 meters. Its maximum burial depth is 150 meters. The construction area is situated in a mountain valley with limited working space. The slope at the tunnel entrance has a gradient of 55°, and the upper part of the slope is distributed with unstable rock masses. During construction, rockfalls and local collapses were prone to occur, making the entry conditions complex and posing significant challenges for on-site construction organization, safety, and quality control. The smooth progress of this tunnel project demonstrates the construction team's ability to handle complex geological conditions.
Given the on-site realities of a short tunnel length and narrow working faces, the project company, in line with the overall schedule, concentrated resources to prioritize the completion of the right bore before initiating excavation of the left bore. This adjustment in the construction sequence optimized the allocation of construction resources and effectively reduced construction costs while ensuring the achievement of key milestones. Throughout the construction process, the project relied on an intelligent steel arch processing center to ensure material supply and implemented standardized construction procedures throughout, successfully accomplishing the breakthrough of the right line. The construction experience gained from this tunnel project provides valuable reference for future construction under similar geological conditions.
The breakthrough of the Qingshi Tunnel's right line creates favorable conditions for accelerating subsequent works along the entire S20 Jiaruo Expressway. It also provides assurance for optimizing the western transportation network and facilitating efficient regional bulk cargo transportation. The project will continue to advance the excavation works at tunnel portals within its designated section to ensure the overall construction progress. With the continuous advancement of the tunnel project, the S20 Jiaruo Expressway moves a step closer to its goal of completion and opening to traffic.
