Abstract: The Pearl river estuary tunnel project of the ShenzhenJiangmen railway is challenging. Many control factors along the route, including dense ports and wharves, crossing multiple highgrade channels, variable depths of river bed water, complex geological conditions, large scale, and high risk, restrict the project implementation. To determine the route scheme of the Pearl river estuary tunnel of the ShenzhenJiangmen railway, scheme research is conducted. First, the control factors for the route selection, such as urban planning, waterways, environmentally sensitive points, and geology on both sides of the Pearl river estuary, are analyzed, and the appropriate locations of the crossing points are selected. Second, two route schemes, the northern route scheme of ShenzhenHumenNansha crossing the river at the estuary of the Taiping waterway in Human and the southern route scheme of ShenzhenNansha crossing the river 500-m north of the runway of Shenzhen Bao′an airport, are proposed. Finally, based on the comprehensive comparison and selection of economic bases in series, line conditions, construction difficulty of subsea tunnels, operating conditions, impact on urban planning and environment, construction period, and project investment, etc., the northern route scheme has more advantages; hence, it is the recommended scheme.

Key words:  , ShenzhenJiangmen railway, Pearl river estuary tunnel, scheme research, route selection, shield method, mining method