On February 28, it was learned from Qingdao Metro Group that with the recent launch of the first shield machine "Tielong No. 6" in Section 11 of Qingdao Metro Line 4, the construction of Line 4 has been fully accelerated. 2021 is Qingdao Metro Group's "Year of Tackling Key Issues and Implementation", and the civil works of Line 4 will be completed this year.

Tackling Key Issues in the Year of the Ox: First Shield Machine "Tielong No. 6" Launched

At 9:18 am on February 23, as the cutterhead of the shield machine slowly rotated, the "Tielong No. 6" shield machine of Section 11 of Qingdao Metro Line 4 was successfully launched at Shazikou Station. This is the second launch of the project after the launch of "Tielong No. 5", and also the first shield launch in the Year of the Ox.

It is understood that the "Tielong No. 6" shield machine passes through complex geology with abundant groundwater, many surface structures, and high personnel mobility. To ensure the smooth launch of the shield machine, the construction unit actively surveyed the construction site and surroundings, prepared targeted construction plans, formulated feasible construction schedules, and conducted training on shield operation and equipment maintenance for on-site personnel, refined responsibility assignments, and implemented safety responsibilities. At the same time, special plans for shield machine hoisting, launching, tunneling, and arrival were prepared and demonstrated, and implemented strictly in accordance with the plans, providing strong technical guarantees and support for the launch. After days of hard work, the "Tielong No. 6" shield machine successfully completed underground installation and debugging, and was successfully launched.

The successful launch of "Tielong No. 6" marks that the project has entered a critical stage of dual-line tunneling. In the subsequent construction, the project department will set off a climax of vigorous work, rationally allocate resources, and strive to complete the schedule goals with high quality and efficiency.

Construction Continues at 27 Work Sites, Civil Works Enter Final Stage

During the Spring Festival, a total of 27 work sites of Metro Line 4 did not stop construction, with 1,582 people staying on duty. The project department of Section 06 of Qingdao Metro Line 4 undertakes the construction tasks of Jinsong San Road Station, Hongshanpo Station, and the San-Si section of Line 4. On the second day of the Lunar New Year, the project department's construction production team was stationed at the construction site, working alongside the workers to achieve the 2021 construction production goals. To ensure that frontline workers can have nutritious, delicious, and fresh meals every day, the project department scientifically formulated daily menus and arranged dedicated personnel to deliver meals to the frontline. "We are busy every day during this period and have no time to return to the canteen for meals. The project department delivers meals to us every day, which makes eating much more convenient and reassuring," said a worker stationed at the construction frontline with a smile. In addition, the project department also prepared milk and other foods as midnight snacks for the construction personnel stationed at the site, provided cold-proof clothing and other supplies, effectively providing good logistical support for the frontline workers and ensuring that they can devote themselves to construction production in good condition.

Track Area Site Handover of Main Structure at Cuobuling Station of Line 4 Successfully Completed

During the Spring Festival, Section 06 successively completed the assembly and debugging of the trolley in the San-Si section, the construction of the crown beam at the entrance and exit of Hongshanpo Station, and especially the concentrated rush construction of the TBM retrieval shaft structure at Jinsong San Road Station. At present, the main structure of Hongshanpo Station is 90% complete, the main structure of Jinsong San Road Station is 60% complete, and the main structure of the San-Si section is 40% complete, laying a solid foundation for achieving the annual construction goals.

In Section 05 of Line 4, a busy scene also prevailed during the Spring Festival. Workers who stayed at their posts stepped up construction and on February 17 achieved the smooth handover of the track area site of the main structure at Cuobuling Station of Line 4, providing passage conditions for the TBM to pass through the station.

Cuobuling Station is the only station on Qingdao Metro Line 4 constructed using the mined double-side drift method, and it transfers with Line 3 through a concourse-to-concourse transfer channel. At the beginning of construction, it faced problems such as poor surrounding rock, tight schedule, and high construction difficulty. The section managed carefully and constructed scientifically, successfully completing the structural capping before the Spring Festival. To ensure the smooth passage of the TBM, construction at Cuobuling Station continued during the Spring Festival without interruption. Many builders gave up reuniting with their families and stayed at the construction frontline. Tying rebar, fixing formwork, safety helmets appearing and disappearing, the site was busy, interpreting a unique flavor of the New Year with hard work and sweat, and working overtime to ensure the construction of the station's curved island platform and crossover structure. Section 05 signed a station track area handover agreement with Section 04, achieving the goal of passing through the station in mid-February, completing the smooth handover of the track area of the station's main structure, and providing favorable conditions for the TBM to pass through.

Civil Construction of Metro Line 4 to Be Completed This Year

The TBM project department of Section 03 of Qingdao Metro Line 4 actively responded to the call for resumption of work, held a mobilization meeting for resumption of work and production, and made arrangements for post-holiday construction. While ensuring the smooth progress of the project, it strictly grasped safety, quality, civilized construction, and normalized epidemic prevention and control. For construction personnel returning to Qingdao, one file per person was established, and real-name registration and three-level education were carried out. In addition, the registration of personnel entering and exiting the construction site was strictly implemented, and the normalized management of gatekeeper epidemic prevention inspections was strengthened. Through careful organization and reasonable scheduling, on-site construction quickly got on track and has now fully started.

Since the Little New Year, the project department's left-line TBM has completed 137 meters of tunneling in the Yijiang section, and the right-line has completed 73 meters of empty pushing and segment assembly in the Jiangtai section and completed the second launch of the section, providing a strong guarantee for the full line breakthrough.

Qingdao Metro Line 4 has a total length of 30.7 kilometers. After completion, it will be able to transfer with Metro Lines 2, 3, and 11, as well as Lines 1 and 8 under construction, becoming an "east-west artery" and adding a significant touch to Qingdao's rail transit network. 2021 is the final year of civil construction for Metro Line 4. Qingdao Metro Line 4 Company will fully carry forward the spirit of the "old ox, willing ox, and pioneer ox", work hard, and implement measures to let island city residents experience more convenient metro travel as soon as possible, contributing metro strength to urban development.