On September 24, the "Jinggangshan" large shield machine of the Shenzhen Metro Line 14 Utility Tunnel Project was successfully launched at Comprehensive Shaft No. 12, marking the project's official entry into the shield tunneling construction phase.

Managed by China Railway Southern Investment and constructed by China Railway No. 4 Engineering Group, the works cover four comprehensive shafts and five sections in Work Area 3 of Section 1 of the Shenzhen Metro Line 14 Utility Tunnel Project, with a total length of 5,120 meters. The utility tunnel sections are all circular tunnels; the comprehensive shafts are constructed by the open-cut method, while the section tunnels are constructed by the shield method. The "Jinggangshan" shield machine launched this time is a dual-mode machine with a shield body diameter of 8.83 meters, a total length of 120 meters and a total weight of 1,230 tons. The geology along the shield tunneling section consists mainly of silty clay, strongly weathered hornfels, and moderately to slightly weathered hornfels, with a minimum curve radius of 450 m and a maximum longitudinal slope of 35‰; the high stratum strength makes tunneling difficult.

Based on the site conditions, the shield machine was launched in a "three-stage" split launch. To ensure a smooth launch, the project department organized and arranged the work scientifically and meticulously: it set up a special leading group for shield launching, formulated a safe and efficient shield launching plan, reversed the construction schedule and assigned responsibilities to individuals; it held several technical exchange meetings to discuss the construction scheme and organized construction management personnel to visit and learn from sister units; it established a strict risk control system, carried out real-time monitoring of the shield construction area, and strengthened training and education for on-site workers to ensure fully controlled safety and quality; and it carefully assembled and repeatedly debugged the shield machine to ensure it was in optimal condition, while assigning dedicated personnel to supervise segment production and pre-purchasing related fittings and materials to ensure adequate reserves of materials and equipment, thereby guaranteeing the smooth launch of the shield machine.

It is understood that once completed, the Shenzhen Metro Line 14 Utility Tunnel Project will effectively accommodate various underground pipelines around the project, including power cables of 110 kV and above, communication cables, water supply pipes, reclaimed water pipes and natural gas pipelines. It is of great significance for modernizing urban infrastructure, enhancing the region's comprehensive carrying capacity and safeguarding sustainable urban development.