On July 3, with the completion of the last precast pipe pile, the substructure of the pile-slab soil-free subgrade of the Anluo Expressway (Luoshan to the Henan-Hubei provincial border section), constructed by the Second Company of China Railway No. 10 Engineering Group, was fully and smoothly completed. The application of the new construction technology for pile-slab soil-free subgrade is the first of its kind in expressway construction in Henan Province, marking another new step forward for Henan expressway construction in practicing the concept of green development and conserving land resources.

Pile-slab soil-free subgrade of the Anluo Expressway (Luoshan to the Henan-Hubei provincial border section) smoothly completed

The Anluo Expressway (Luoshan to the Henan-Hubei provincial border section) is an important component of the Anluo Expressway in Henan Province and the final segment connecting the Henan Anluo Expressway with the Hubei Wuhan-Dawu Expressway. The project route is approximately 43.974 km long, starting from Dongmiaoxian Township in Luoshan County, Xinyang City, southern Henan, and ending at the Henan-Hubei provincial border in Dingyuan Township, Luoshan County, linking the Anluo Expressway (Shangcai to Luoshan section) and the Wuhan-Dawu Expressway, and intersecting with the Shanghai-Shaanxi Expressway.

Pile-slab soil-free subgrade of the Anluo Expressway (Luoshan to the Henan-Hubei provincial border section) smoothly completed

Pile-slab soil-free subgrade of the Anluo Expressway (Luoshan to the Henan-Hubei provincial border section) smoothly completed

The pile-slab soil-free subgrade adopted by the project is a new type of rigid hollow subgrade structure composed of "piles" and "slabs," in which precast slabs are consolidated with the bridge pile and column substructures through post-casting. Compared with conventional subgrade, the pile-slab structure subgrade has greater rigidity and smaller settlement, and does not require the slope width essential in conventional subgrade construction, greatly improving land utilization and effectively solving problems faced in plain-area highway construction such as the lack of usable soil, difficulty in obtaining soil, and difficulty in treating soft foundations in ponds and paddy fields. In addition, precast pipe piles and precast slabs can be centrally prefabricated in standardized prefabrication yards using assembly-type, factory-based prefabrication methods, which is of great significance for improving process technology and actively promoting standardized design, factory production, assembly installation, and specialized construction. At the same time, it can greatly shorten the construction period, improve engineering quality, save construction costs, and conserve natural and social resources, achieving the goals of green construction and intelligent building.

Pile-slab soil-free subgrade of the Anluo Expressway (Luoshan to the Henan-Hubei provincial border section) smoothly completed

During the project construction, the Second Company of China Railway No. 10 Engineering Group consistently upheld the construction philosophy of "meticulous construction, meticulous management, and striving for excellence," insisting on making full efforts in technological innovation and engineering quality. Through a series of technological innovation and quality-enhancement measures such as "minor equipment modification, minor process improvement, and minor construction-method refinement," it focused on enhancing engineering quality and is committed to building a quality road, green road, harmonious road, and happy road for the people of the old revolutionary base areas.

Pile-slab soil-free subgrade of the Anluo Expressway (Luoshan to the Henan-Hubei provincial border section) smoothly completed

It is reported that the construction of the Anluo Expressway (Luoshan to the Henan-Hubei provincial border section) will accelerate the full connection of the entire Anluo Expressway, form a new north-south longitudinal corridor within Henan Province, and ease the traffic pressure on the Beijing-Hong Kong-Macao Expressway. At the same time, it will connect the Shanghai-Shaanxi Expressway, the Yan Dabie Mountains Expressway, and others, forming an expressway network in the Dabie Mountains area of southern Henan and improving the road network structure in the Dabie Mountains area. The project is expected to be completed and opened to traffic in June 2024.