On October 18, the Guangdong Traffic Group announced a significant milestone in the construction of the Lion Rock Tunnel project. After two hours of careful lifting operation, a prefabricated box beam measuring approximately 28 meters in length and weighing about 103 tons was successfully positioned on the Xiaohu Island Elevated Bridge at 4 PM. This marked the installation of the first prefabricated box beam for the entire project, effectively kicking off the construction of the upper structure of the approach bridge.
The Lion Rock Tunnel is the first east-west dual-layer cross-river passageway in the Pearl River Delta, representing a crucial step in enhancing the highway network in Guangdong Province and contributing to the development of a one-hour transportation circle in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area. Upon completion, this project is expected to deliver a new leap in scale and span for bridge construction in China.
The Xiaohu Island Elevated Bridge plays a vital role as a key link between the main bridge and the approach bridge on the Nansha side of the Lion Rock Tunnel. This two-layer simply-supported beam bridge comprises a total of 56 spans designed as prestressed concrete box beams. Each layer consists of 12 segments per span, totaling 672 segments. The span lengths alternate between 30 meters and 31 meters, while the prefabricated box beams come in lengths of 28 meters and 29 meters. Erection of the beams involves both truck cranes and bridge erecting machines, with the entire superstructure and installation being undertaken by China Communications Construction Company’s Second Public Bureau.
During the erection of the first prefabricated box beam on the Xiaohu Island Elevated Bridge, two 500-ton truck cranes were employed. The beam had to be rotated horizontally in mid-air, creating significant safety risks during the dual-machine operation. To ensure a safe and smooth installation, the construction team meticulously planned the procedure, conducted safety briefings, and intensified training efforts to enhance on-site execution capability, ultimately leading to a successful installation. A total of 24 prefabricated box beams have already arrived at the construction site, with expectations set to complete the installation of 120 beams by the end of this year.
The first prefabricated box beam was produced by the Guangzhou Highway Engineering Group. The project team undertook extensive trial mixing and employed self-made mortar pads with the same mix ratio as the beams to address aesthetic issues like color discrepancies and imprinting. Adjustments to the curing spray nozzle shapes and waterproof tape application were implemented to mitigate secondary contamination concerns. The design of the steel template’s edges, along with careful control of mix ratios and demolding times, helped resolve quality issues such as edge chipping at the ends of the prefabricated beams, laying a solid foundation for the high-quality production of the box beams.
Overall, the project is progressing smoothly, with the main bridge, the Lion Rock Bridge, currently undergoing tower and anchor filling works, while the approach bridge transitions to the construction of the upper structure. The project is expected to be completed and opened to traffic by the end of 2028.
