China’s mainland high-speed rail, known for its super-fast and stable performance, has recently come under scrutiny due to allegations of substandard construction practices, sparking heated discussions.
According to a report by the “Economic Reference News,” Three-Jie Industrial Co., Ltd., a subcontractor of the Shandong Lairong High-Speed Rail Section Three, accused China Construction Eighth Engineering Division Corporation Limited (referred to as “China Construction Eighth Engineering”) of engaging in substandard practices, particularly with regard to the construction of the screw piles in the rail section. It was revealed that many of the screw piles in this section did not meet the design requirements, posing significant safety hazards.
Media reports stated that, in collaboration with experts, Three-Jie personnel examined geological survey maps and construction design drawings of the Lairong High-Speed Rail section and found evidence of substandard practices. Furthermore, other subcontractors responsible for labor on the Lairong High-Speed Rail section reported similar issues during pile driving operations.
The Lairong High-Speed Rail project is a significant undertaking in Shandong, stretching from Qingdao’s Laixi City in the west to Rongcheng City in Weihai in the east, covering a total length of 193 kilometers. The project’s total investment amounts to 29.7 billion yuan, and it is designed to operate at a speed of 350 kilometers per hour. Construction began in November 2020, and it was expected to be ready for operation by the end of October 2023. China Construction Eighth Engineering is the main contractor for this high-speed rail section, and Three-Jie Industrial is responsible for the foundation pile drilling in certain segments.
According to Xiao Weiguo, the head of Three-Jie Industrial, the actual pile lengths on the Lairong High-Speed Rail were generally between 10 to 13 meters, with over 90% of the screw piles falling short of the design length. In the southern station of the Lairong High-Speed Rail, most of the screw piles also failed to meet the required design length.
Construction workers revealed that if the actual pile lengths were shorter than the design requirements, a significant amount of concrete could be saved, leading to substantial cost reductions for China Construction Eighth Engineering.
Experts emphasized that pile length is a critical parameter in engineering design, and failing to meet the design requirements can lead to reduced load-bearing capacity and compromised construction quality. Using data on concrete usage, calculations indicated that the actual pile lengths were generally about 20% shorter than the design lengths.
Construction workers further revealed that over half of the screw piles did not meet the design length, and some were even less than 50% of the intended length.
When the personnel responsible for construction from Three-Jie Industrial encountered difficulties in reaching the design depth during screw pile operations, they reported the issue to China Construction Eighth Engineering on-site staff. However, their concerns were ignored, and concrete was poured to complete the piles without reaching the intended depth.
Xiao Weiguo stated that they had signed a commitment to take lifelong responsibility for the project’s quality. Still, despite raising the issues multiple times to China Construction Eighth Engineering, the response they received was, “If you can do it, then do it. If you can’t, get out.”
As a result of their numerous complaints about pile lengths and related issues, Three-Jie Industrial was removed from the construction of the Lairong High-Speed Rail Section Three. Zhu Qi, involved in the construction, expressed that many of the construction rules and agreements for their company’s involvement were merely empty promises.
As the primary contractor for Section Three of the high-speed rail project, China Construction Eighth Engineering was expected to play a leading role in preventing substandard practices during construction. However, it appears they lost control over the quality control of the foundation pile work in this section. Although construction workers raised objections to the on-site supervision, China Construction Eighth Engineering personnel simply used various methods to convince the supervisors to turn a blind eye to the reduced pile lengths.
Railway engineering experts from Beijing Jiaotong University highlighted that inadequate pile lengths could jeopardize the safe transmission of loads to the deep layers of the soil, leading to foundation instability, permanent damage, and safety hazards, threatening the safety of train operations. Officials Call for Comprehensive Investigation and Legal Action
In response to the aforementioned issues, China Construction released a statement on the 20th, claiming they are aware of the allegations and will conduct a thorough verification. Shandong Lairong High-Speed Railway Co., Ltd. has also dispatched an investigation team to the site.
The Shandong Provincial Department of Transportation responded by stating that they highly value the concerns regarding construction quality and have formed an investigation team. They will conduct a comprehensive investigation and verification in collaboration with relevant parties and handle the situation according to the law and regulations. The investigation results will be promptly made public.