Recently, with the pouring of the final T-beam at the China Railway Third Bureau's Yichang South Beam Precast Yard, the entire prefabrication task for T-beams on the Yichang Three Gorges Port Railway line was fully completed. This conclusion of a critical process provides assurance for the subsequent advancement of construction stages, including beam erection and track laying.
The Yichang Three Gorges Port Railway spans approximately 39.6 kilometers and is China's first electrified freight railway equipped with dam-crossing transfer capabilities. The section constructed by China Railway Third Bureau is about 27.8 kilometers long, involving a total of 698 prefabricated beams. The recently completed Yichang South Beam Precast Yard presented significant challenges for on-site construction organization and safety management, as its closest point is merely 20 meters from the busy Yichang-Wanzhou operational railway line, compounded by the complex terrain of the Wuling Mountain area.
To ensure safe and efficient construction, the project team utilized drone aerial surveying and BIM technology during the planning phase of the beam yard to optimize the layout and work sequences within the confined site. Throughout the construction process, strict adherence to control regulations for work adjacent to existing railway lines was maintained, with full-process supervision implemented for high-risk stages such as beam lifting and transportation. An informatization system was also employed for 24-hour dynamic monitoring of equipment operation to prevent any disruption to the normal functioning of the existing railway.
The beam yard also incorporated processes such as recycled water spray curing to minimize the construction's environmental impact. It is understood that the Three Gorges Port Railway is a key transportation infrastructure project in Hubei Province and, upon completion, will become a vital component of the Three Gorges hub's comprehensive transportation system.
By connecting with multiple major railway arteries, including the Hankou-Yichang and Jiaozuo-Liuzhou lines, it will achieve seamless integration of water-rail intermodal transport. This development is expected to significantly reduce regional logistics costs and play an important role in optimizing the transport structure and promoting economic development in Western Hubei and Northern Hunan regions.