After more than 1,500 days of intensive efforts, major breakthroughs have been made in the construction of the Xigu Tunnel, a key control project of the Lanzhou-Hezuo Railway from Lanzhou city in Gansu province to Hezuo city in Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture.
The Xigu Tunnel is the longest Class I high-risk tunnel along the entire Lanzhou-Hezuo Railway. The tunnel traverses the transitional zone between the Loess Plateau and the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, with certain sections passing beneath expressways. The geological conditions are complex, with high construction safety risks and significant technical challenges. The breakthrough of Inclined Shaft No. 4 of the Xigu Tunnel has resolved a major challenge in the construction of the Lanzhou-Hezuo Railway, laying a solid foundation for the smooth advancement of the remaining works along the entire line.