Inspired by a historical figure of the Aboriginal Australian indigenous people “Patyegarang” This giant work machine, with a diameter of 15.7 meters, started working in the 6.5 kilometer long, 6-lane “West Harbor Tunnel” project, which will pass under Sydney Harbour.
The giant mole, which continues its underground operation as of 2026 and is the size of a 4-storey building lying on its side, has the title of being the largest tunnel boring machine that China has ever exported to the world.
HE MAKES TURNS BY BENDING AT THE WAIST
The factor that made the project unique in the world, which progressed tens of meters below sea level and on a very difficult underground ground, was the sharp “S” shaped curves of the tunnel.
While under normal circumstances huge machines of this size cannot make sharp turns due to their rigid and flat bodies, China Railway Engineering Equipment Group (CREG) engineers have developed a game-changing technology to overcome this problem.
Thanks to a sensitive joint system added to the machine, the huge body can “bend at the waist” underground, just like a train carriage, and turn sharp curves with millimetric precision.
IT WILL RELAX SYDNEY’S TRAFFIC
This mega project, which was implemented to solve Sydney’s chronic traffic bottleneck and will almost double the underground vehicle capacity, is aimed to be fully completed in 2028, following intensive excavation work in 2026.
Equipped with smart sensors that provide constant high pre-pressure protection against the risks of collapse and water leakage that may occur when operating under active water bodies, this Chinese engineering marvel has successfully served in the Australian market with strict global standards and turned into China’s show of force in technology exports.
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