The construction of the first undersea tunnel in Chinese mainland, Xiamen East Tunnel, is to be started in May this year and expected to finish by 2010. The Tunnel stretches a total length of 9 kilometers, of which the principal part of cross-sea project stretches around six kilometers, and the Tunnel's deepest point is 70 meters below the sea level.

The total investment of the project is approximately 3.25 billion yuan. The tunnel is as designed two-way with six lanes, and the driving speed per hour could be 80 kilometers.

In 2004, 14 experts held after the evaluation of feasibility study on the project that from the perspective of technology, the construction plan of bridge and tunnel Xiamen East Tunnel project adopted was both possible.

However, out of concern for the protection of environment and resources, the experts agreed upon the undermining method, which was supposed to help guarantee an all-weather road traffic, protect the rare species such as lancelet in this region, as well as erect cross-sea municipal pipe lines and high voltage power transmission lines.

By People's Daily Online