The south line of the Jinan Hangtian Avenue Yellow River Tunnel's first phase surpassed 2,000 meters of excavation on Oct 19, marking a milestone in the construction of this key piece of infrastructure in Jinan, capital of East China's Shandong province.

The tunnel features six two-way lanes with a design speed of 60 kilometers per hour, and is set to connect Jinan Yaoqiang International Airport with the Jinan Start-up Area for Growth Drivers Transformation.

Spanning 3,888 meters, the tunnel includes a 3,252-meter shield section, excavated using the "Qihang" tunnel boring machine (TBM).

The project faces complex technical challenges as the tunnel passes beneath the Yellow River, its embankments, and silted backwater areas. The Jinan section of the river is an elevated river, with normal water level at 4–5 meters above the ground, adding further difficulty, especially during the flood season.

To address these challenges, a 15.06-meter-diameter TBM with specialized design features has been adopted to minimize wear, optimize slurry treatment efficiency, and reduce impact on the embankments through real-time monitoring.

So far, the TBM has overcome major technological obstacles and achieved a record-breaking daily excavation of 22 meters.

Once completed, the tunnel will further strengthen the urban road network on both sides of the Yellow River, enhancing connections between expressways, highways, and major transport hubs. It is also expected to support the development of the Jinan Start-up Area for Growth Drivers Transformation.