Both sides were connected on Aug 5 in the new Banzhang Mt Tunnel designated for cyclists and pedestrians commuting between Ningxi in New Xiangzhou and Gongbei.

The sidewalk is raised 40 cm (1.3 ft) above the non-motor-vehicle lane, with each taking up half the width of the passageway. Benches will be installed along the naturally ventilated walkway.

The slow-traffic tunnel may be decorated with inkjet paintings on aviation, the sea, and humanistic themes. 

Slow-traffic passageway through Banzhang Mt

Nearby, the upper header of the motorist tunnel was drilled through the mountain on July 25. Its bench below the floor of the heading is to be blasted through the next 200 m (219 yd) within two weeks.

The parallel tunnel will be broken through on Aug 15. Blasting of three passages for emergency use that link it up with the slow-traffic tunnel will be completed by the end of September.

The additional Banzhang MT tunnels, which are expected to be operational by April 2020, will break gridlocks on south-north Yingbin Road and alleviate traffic pressure on downtown Zhuhai.

Tunnel entrance [Photos by Zhong Fan / Zhuhai Daily]

The upper header of one of the new dual-lane tunnels between New Xiangzhou (Ningxi) and Gongbei was drilled through Banzhang Mt on July 25, while the bench below the floor of the top heading, with 360.3 m (394 yd) to be blasted, will see ends meet by mid-August.

As of July 27, 69.4 m (76 yd) were yet to be drilled for the upper header of the new slow-traffic passageway, which will fully pass through Banzhang Mt as of Aug 6. The tunnel from Gongbei to Ningxi, with 138.5 m (151 yd) to be evacuated, will achieve hold-through on Aug 15.

Xiangzhou-Gongbei tunnel through Banzhang Mt

The pair of roadway tunnels will allow a maximum speed of 60 kmph (37 mph) and the slow-traffic passageway is for cyclists and pedestrians going in both directions.

Four pedestrian and four motor-vehicle passages for emergency use are being drilled to link up the two roadways with the current Banzhang Tunnel. The secondary lining will be completed by Nov 20.

By April 2020, there will be dual eight-lane passages with a length of 1.21 km (3/4 mile), breaking gridlocks on south-north Yingbin Road, and further alleviating traffic pressure on downtown Zhuhai.

Workers in both the header arch and passageway

Excavation in progress [Photos by Zhong Fan / Zhuhai Daily]