China’s largest-diameter boring machine reaches 6-mile tunnel mark

China’s largest-diameter shield tunneling machine, known as Linghang and developed independently for the Chongming-Taizhou tunnel, has reached a significant milestone by completing over 6.2 miles (10,000 meters) of continuous tunneling. Equipped with the world’s largest cutting wheel at 15.4 meters in diameter, the 148-meter-long, 4,000-ton machine is the first of its size to achieve such a distance in a single drive. This tunnel will enable high-speed trains to cross the Yangtze River, significantly reducing travel times between major cities like Shanghai, Nanjing, and Hefei. The project also sets records for the longest single-drive tunneling distance (7 miles/11.32 km), the deepest underwater tunnel (89 meters), and the highest design speed for an underwater tunnel (350 kph). Linghang features an advanced smart control system that allows for autonomous operation through intelligent data analysis and machine learning, enhancing stability and efficiency compared to manual