By Zhu Huibin

At 10 o’clock on 18 May, at the site of PipeChina Chinese and Russian east line cross Yangtze River TBM project, cutter head of the first ordinary pressure cutter head TBM with smallest diameter in the world ‘Changtong’ started to roll, and cross Yangtze River work was started. It was a sign that Chinese and Russian east line cross Yangtze River TBM project was started officially.

Chinese and Russia east line natural gas pipeline is an important long distance natural gas pipeline in China. It is built in stages: north, middle and south sections. North section and middle section are in operation already.

‘Changtong’ set off from north bank in Haimen district, will cross the Yangtze River by tunneling, and end at south bank in Changshu. The boring length is 10.226 km, which breaks the record of longest boring length of single TBM in the world.