Hainan Circular Island Expressway Damao Tunnel right bore has been completed; the left bore still has the final 200 meters.

Hainan Daily, Sanya, March 7 (Hainan Daily All Media Reporter Cao Mazhi) Currently, overlooking the Hainan Island Expressway Damao Tunnel, two busy “traffic flows” are clearly distinguishable: on one side, on the existing four-lane road, thousands or even tens of thousands of vehicles rush by daily; on the other side, at the tunnel renovation site, construction machinery such as trucks, excavators, and cranes are operating in an orderly manner, creating a lively scene.

“Work has not stopped during the Spring Festival, and after the holiday, efforts have been intensified to speed up. Currently, construction is at full capacity.” Regardless of whether it is during the holiday or after, Zhao Xin, the project on-site representative of Hainan Transportation Group, has been working tirelessly, coordinating and organizing the owner, design, supervision, and construction units. Currently, more than 400 personnel are involved in the project. The new tunnel is approximately 1.1 kilometers long, located in a closed management area, and will be a new twin-bore, four-lane tunnel.

“The project is divided into the left and right bores. The right bore has already been completed, while the left bore is still about 200 meters away from completion,” said Chen Jiwu, Party branch secretary of China Communications First Public Bureau Xiamen Company, the construction contractor.

“The process involves three steps: excavation first, then support, and finally secondary lining,” Wu Guilin, a worker from the excavation team, told reporters during a break. The team advances in meters, completing about 3 meters of excavation each day.

This project is not just about the tunnel; it also includes sub-projects such as roadbed and pavement, bridges and culverts, intersection works, traffic engineering, along-line facilities, environmental protection, and landscaping. The new tunnel is the key control project of the entire project. After the new tunnel is completed, the existing tunnel will undergo damage repair and be retained for use, with upgrades to traffic safety, electromechanical facilities, and other auxiliary systems implemented simultaneously.

Zhao Xin explained that the project team is currently increasing construction resource input and optimizing construction organization to ensure the successful completion of the first quarter’s “opening success” goal. The tunnel is planned to be excavated and connected by the end of April this year.