China independently developed double shield tunnel hard rock excavation machine and put it into use

On January 5, 2025, the first double shield hard rock excavation machine "Jianghan Ping'an" jointly developed by China South to North Water Diversion Group Jianghan Water Network Construction and Development Co., Ltd., China Railway Equipment and China Railway Third Bureau for the Yangtze River Diversion Project was successfully excavated and launched in Yiling District, Yichang City, Hubei Province. The "Jianghan Ping'an" double shield hard rock excavation machine has an excavation diameter of 11.93 meters and a total length of about 180 meters. It can achieve synchronous excavation operations and pipe installation during operation. The Yangtze River Diversion Project is the first major project to commence construction in the follow-up of the South to North Water Diversion Project, and it is also a landmark project to accelerate the construction of the main framework and arteries of the national water network