Recently, the first meeting of the Safety Work Leading Group for the Water Survey Construction of the Haimen-Taicang Yangtze River Crossing Channel was held in Changshu. As the preliminary foundation and key link of the channel construction, the convening of the meeting marks that the water survey of the channel is about to enter the construction operation stage, and the construction of the Haimen-Taicang Yangtze River Crossing Channel has taken another big step forward.

I. Introduction to the Haimen-Taicang Yangtze River Crossing Channel

The Haimen-Taicang Yangtze River Crossing Channel is a composite river crossing channel explicitly proposed in the 'Jiangsu Province Yangtze River Economic Belt Comprehensive Three-Dimensional Transportation Corridor Plan (2018-2035)'. It is located about 8 kilometers downstream of the Sutong Bridge and uses a three-tube tunnel for highway and rail to cross the Yangtze River.

The highway connects Tongxi Expressway, Shanghai-Shaanxi Expressway, and Shanghai-Wuhan Expressway. Once completed, the project will break through the transportation barriers between the north and south banks of the Yangtze River and alleviate the traffic pressure on the Sutong Bridge. The rail connects Rudong, Nantong, Suzhou, and Huzhou, and is a controlling node project of the Rudong-Nantong-Suzhou-Huzhou Intercity Railway.

The construction of this project is an important improvement to the regional transportation infrastructure, strengthening the interconnection between the two banks of the Yangtze River, providing commuting guarantees and fast direct intercity travel guarantees for the coordinated development between the two banks, thereby generating same-city effects, accelerating regional economic integration and integration process, and further promoting the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta region.

II. Overview of the Water Survey Construction of the Haimen-Taicang Yangtze River Crossing Channel

The water survey is the preliminary foundation and key link of the Haimen-Taicang Yangtze River Crossing Channel construction. The survey water area is located in the Changshu section of the Yangtze River, which is the 'throat' of the Yangtze River waterway. The main channel runs east-west, and the branch channels extend in all directions, with many intersecting routes, high navigation density, and large vessel types. The survey line runs from the Bai Mao River estuary on the south bank to the Lixin River estuary on the north bank, crossing the Changshu Port dedicated waterway, the Bai Mao Sha South Waterway, the Bai Mao Sha North Waterway, and the downstream waters of the Changshu Port sea-going vessel anchorage from south to north. A total of 15 construction zones are set up, with 5 rows of boreholes arranged. 72 boreholes are arranged per kilometer in the project water area, totaling 515 boreholes. The total construction period is about 280 days, which will create a new record for the most boreholes and the longest construction period in the history of Yangtze River water surveys.

III. Preliminary Maritime Regulatory Support Work

To serve the construction of national key projects, under the unified leadership of the Jiangsu Maritime Safety Administration, the Changshu Maritime Safety Administration attaches great importance and conducts early research and judgment.

Together with the Nantong Maritime Safety Administration, it has conducted multiple special studies on the supervision and maintenance of the water survey construction site;

It has openly selected law enforcement personnel with strong responsibility and excellent business skills from the entire bureau to form a special work team;

Together with the construction unit, it has optimized the construction zones, navigation mark settings, and route navigation methods.

On June 10, 2021, the first meeting of the Safety Work Leading Group for the Water Survey Construction of the Haimen-Taicang Yangtze River Crossing Channel was held. The meeting required that the extreme importance of the safety work of the water survey construction of the Haimen-Taicang Yangtze River Crossing Channel should be recognized, and two preventions should be achieved, namely preventing 'top hot, middle warm, bottom cold' and preventing 'front hot, middle warm, back cold', and always maintaining high enthusiasm for work; work synergy should be formed, and the collaboration and cooperation of related work should be seriously grasped, making full use of the advantages of the party building alliance to mobilize the enthusiasm of all parties, and building the collaboration mechanism more scientifically, reasonably, and effectively; four aspects of 'guarantee, publicity, management, and hardware' should be in place.

IV. Recent Construction Reminders

The water survey construction is expected to start in June 2021, with two construction zones operating simultaneously. Among the 15 construction zones, zones 3 and 4 are located in the Changshu Port dedicated waterway, zones 6, 7, and 8 are located in the main channel of the Yangtze River, and zones 9, 10, and 11 are located in the Bai Mao Sha North Waterway. Construction vessels need to operate continuously for a long time, which will have a greater impact on navigation. At that time, the route navigation methods in the construction water area will be adjusted, and corresponding traffic control measures will be implemented for passing vessels.

Specific construction, route navigation method adjustments, and traffic control requirements will be made into promotional brochures. The Changshu Maritime Safety Administration will publicize them through various forms such as navigation notices, press conferences, and WeChat releases. Please pay attention in a timely manner.