With the construction of the whole line unfolded, Beijing Urban Construction Group Co., Ltd.(BUCG) will bring its experiment fruit--- shield construction--into full play, with shields tunneling going on simultaneously in other sections. This move marks subway construction in Beijing entering an age of shield construction, bringing about much cleaner air and quieter living environment to common people as well.

"After the experiment was proven successful, shield machines kept on tunneling toward Zhangzizhong Road, now there are only 170 meters left undone from this road." Informed by relative responsible person with BUCG, it is the first time that the shield tunneling method has been employed in subway construction. Besides, it is predicted that numbers of shields will be used for tunneling next year, as seven sections are now included in shield construction.

According to the responsible person, "with the adoption of shield construction, traffic need not be stopped. Rainfall is also unnecessary, which eliminates harm to ground buildings, guaranteeing their safety, and also protects groundwater resources in Beijing."

Early in 1996 Beijing Urban Engineering Design and Research Institute formally put forward the tentative idea and feasibility analysis of the adoption of shield drilling method in the feasibility study report on subway line 5. Up to 1999, this institute had made an all-round analysis technically and economically, holding that conditions were ripe for shield construction in subway line 5. In the same year, the State Development Planning Commission (predecessor of the State Development & Reform Commission) approved this plan. Since then shield drilling method has been formally applied to subway construction in Beijing.

Shield construction marks a new stage in Beijing's subway construction. After 20 years' unremitting efforts, BUCG, together with its predecessor, has transformed subway construction techniques.

(People's Daily June 27, 2003)