Starting July 1, the newly renovated Songshan Tunnel officially opened to two-way traffic in both tubes. It is understood that the project began construction on September 25, 2012. After 9 months of construction, Songshan Tunnel has taken on a new look. The road surface layer uses SMA modified asphalt, resulting in less driving noise and a more wear-resistant road surface. At the same time, LED lighting is used inside the tunnel, and the inner walls are decorated with 3-meter enamel steel plates, enhancing the brightness inside the tunnel. Upon entering, one feels it is especially bright.

Only 2 minutes to drive round trip

Starting July 1, Songshan Tunnel officially opened to two-way traffic in both tubes. The reporter saw at the scene that the tunnel was brightly lit and the road surface smooth. Driving through the tunnel was very smooth; driving back and forth through both tubes took only just over 2 minutes.

“Now it's much more convenient whether going to work or going home,” said citizen Mr. Lu, who had just driven out of the tunnel, looking happily at the brand-new tunnel. He said that in the past when passing through, the tunnel was full of potholes and the car bounced around. Plus the lighting was too dim, and he always worried there would be no time to react if something happened. “After the major repair, first one side opened, but due to too many vehicles, congestion was easy. Now both tubes are open, and it's smoother.” Mr. Lu also specifically mentioned that the lighting in the tunnel is very bright, and upon entering it feels very bright.

Eight years of traffic left it battered

It is understood that Songshan Tunnel, located on Jialingjiang Road in the Development Zone, has a single-tube length of 500 meters, a height of 7 meters, and a width of 10.97 meters. Construction started on April 30, 2003. The tunnel was designed with two tubes, north and south, and four lanes in both directions. The roadway inside the tunnel is 8.5 meters wide, with a 1.5-meter-wide sidewalk on the right side in the direction of travel. It officially opened to traffic on January 1, 2005, becoming Qingdao's first urban tunnel. As an important part of Jialingjiang Road, the main east-west artery in the southern urban area of the Development Zone, Songshan Tunnel has borne the main engineering transport pressure of the Xuejiadao area since its completion.

“Since the opening of Songshan Tunnel, traffic volume has always been high, and many large trucks carrying steel bars, cement, and concrete also use it, causing severe damage to the road surface,” said a responsible person from the Development Zone Municipal Public Utilities Bureau. At that time, the tunnel arch was specially waterproofed, and the road surface had a drainage layer, but due to frequent overloaded vehicles, the drainage layer was crushed and damaged.

After the opening of the Jiaozhou Bay Tunnel, vehicles from Huangdao, Xin'an, Liuhuabo, and Hongshiya subdistricts in the Development Zone, as well as many out-of-town vehicles, quickly poured in. The damage to Songshan Tunnel became increasingly severe, with longitudinal and transverse cracks appearing inside, and local potholes and subsidence. The asphalt pavement was full of potholes. Over time, the brightness of the sodium lamps in both tubes also continuously declined, and some lamps were damaged, resulting in insufficient brightness inside the tunnel and causing much inconvenience to passing vehicles.

Nine months of renovation give the tunnel a new look

“After the renovation, all these problems have been solved, and public passage is more comfortable,” the responsible person said. To improve tunnel traffic conditions, starting September 25, 2012, workers began construction and renovation, mainly including road surface reconstruction, groundwater treatment inside the tunnel, replanting greenery at tunnel entrances and exits, interior decoration of the tunnel, and replacement of lighting equipment inside the tunnel.

“The renovated road surface uses SMA modified asphalt, resulting in less driving noise and a more wear-resistant surface. Its rutting resistance and high-temperature stability have also been improved,” the responsible person introduced. LED lighting is used inside the tunnel, which is more energy-efficient on the basis of improved brightness. The inner walls are decorated with 3-meter enamel steel plates, which, together with the LED lighting equipment, enhance the brightness inside the tunnel. “The enamel steel plates on both sides have a reflective effect, and together with the lighting, the entire tunnel is brighter.”