The Jinan Aerospace Avenue Yellow River Crossing Tunnel Project (Phase I) commenced construction on January 8. This is the third large-diameter shield tunnel crossing the Yellow River to begin construction in Jinan. Once completed, the project will further improve the urban road network system on both banks of the Yellow River and provide strong transportation support for implementing the major national strategy for the Yellow River and accelerating Jinan's march toward the "Yellow River Era."

The Aerospace Avenue Yellow River Crossing Tunnel Project (Phase I) is located in Jinan High-tech Zone and the Jinan Start-up Area for Growth Drivers Transformation, and serves as an important corridor linking Yaoqiang International Airport and the Start-up Area. It starts in the east at the intersection of Aerospace Avenue and County Road X012 and ends at the receiving shaft on the northwest side outside Madian Village, with a total length of 3,888 meters. It is built to urban arterial road standards, with a design speed of 60 km/h, dual tubes and six lanes in both directions, a shield-driven section 3,245 meters long, and segment outer diameter of 14.5 meters. The project is invested in and constructed by Jinan Urban Construction Group, with China Railway 14th Bureau Group and other units participating in construction.

According to Zhang Jianyong, project manager of China Railway 14th Bureau Group, the normal water level of the Yellow River in the tunnel section is 4 to 5 meters higher than the urban ground surface, and the shield tunnel bears a maximum water pressure of 0.65 MPa, entailing high construction risk and great difficulty. The project team will adopt slurry balance and micro-disturbance shield tunneling technology to cross the Yellow River embankment, and at the same time, to improve shield tunneling efficiency, will use simultaneous two-component grouting technology at the shield tail to ensure safe and orderly progress of the project.

It is reported that the construction of this project will play an important role in connecting both banks of the Yellow River, building the skeleton road network of the northern urban area, opening a new westward evacuation channel from the airport, and driving development along the route. It is a major project for Jinan to implement the "ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin" and respond to the "**National Comprehensive Pilot Zone for New Growth Drivers Transformation" strategy. After the project is completed and opened to traffic, it will take as little as 4 minutes by car to cross the Yellow River, providing a direct connection from Jinan Yaoqiang Airport to the Jinan Start-up Area for Growth Drivers Transformation.