Tunnel under the Amur in Khabarovsk

Tunnel under the Amur, a photo of which is in thisarticle - Khabarovsk secret military-civilian structure. His characteristics are unique. The tunnel is the only such underwater facility on the territory of Russia. The strategic strength of the structure has not been tried. And the tunnel is used in modern times for peaceful purposes.

Prehistory

Plans for the construction of a railwayThe transport structure arose in the early twentieth century. The tunnel was planned to be built under the Amur. In 1906, measurements and studies were carried out. Based on these works, several projects of an underwater tunnel and a bridge over the river appeared.

The projection drawing was presented at the exhibitionAmur Region in Khabarovsk. The event was dedicated to the jubilee date of the Romanovs' house - the tercentenary. On the projection drawing, a train was shown depicting a path under water. But it turned out to be a project to build a bridge across the Amur as the most relevant.

Classification of buildings

In the 1930's. Large-scale construction began in the Far East. This led to an increase in freight traffic along the Trans-Siberian Railway. The railway line, which was built in the 19-20th centuries, required expansion. And in April 1920 the bridge spans were blown up by partisans to block the way for the Japanese. The Trans-Siberian Railway was torn up for five years. The Far East was cut off from Siberia and Russia. And the railway passed through Manchuria.

Therefore, it was decided to build a tunnelunder the Amur, since the bridge was very vulnerable due to the military threat from Japan. The future underwater structure was immediately classified and received number 4 of the NKPS. Therefore, this object has not been known for a long time.

Preparation for construction

Before the construction of an underwater tunnel inKhabarovsk the special expedition from "Soyuztransproekt" has left. The list of researchers included specialists from the Metro Project and the Kuybyshev Military Academy. The territory of construction first had a network of geodetic points. These are metal grades in concrete monoliths.

The work was carried out by three independent brigades. If one of them appeared deviations from the plan, then the corrections were made by all three of the surveyors. Then the following specialists - surveyors, worked on the surface. And the axis of the underwater tunnel was laid, tied to the stamps.

All the work was carried out at a rapid pace - in allfor five months. During the route approval, 9 options were considered. The design was carried out by academician Vedeneev and the institute "Metroproekt". Finally, a version was approved that takes into account air defense. The building was to be built half a kilometer from the bridge. The railway tunnel under the Amur in Khabarovsk was finally approved in March 1938.

The beginning of the construction of a classified object

According to the decree of the government, in 1937 began the construction of a secret building, which was called "object number 4". At that time, work often began without a general estimate and development of technical projects. And the construction of the tunnel was no exception. The technical project and the general estimate were sent to the site later - in May 1939. 294.5 million rubles were to be spent on the construction of the underwater tunnel. The construction was planned to be commissioned in late 1939.

Who was engaged in construction?

In 1937, the tunneling began. It was made by fifteen different construction organizations. Were involved in the work and military engineering units. The tunnel under Amur was built under the leadership of L. M. Kaganovich, people's commissar of communications of the Soviet Union. Responsible for the object number 4 was appointed N. A. Ermolaev. He also became the chief engineer. Ermolaev supervised all construction work before they were completed.

Installation of all ground structures and procurementrubble engaged railway troops. For the construction of the tunnel, 900 Metrostroi workers were seconded to the object, having the main specialized professions. The head of the specialists was appointed I. D. Gotsiridze. The civilians were helped by the construction of the tunnel. Prisoners worked in quarries. In total, 5,500 people a year participated in the creation of the tunnel.

Trunks and main axle shim

Before the railway began to be builta tunnel under the Amur River, at first four mine trunks were laid. Shields made down the ground below them - to the design mark. Each barrier was under the scrutiny of three surveying crews. They performed the laying of the main axis of the underwater structure, focusing on the design points.

Features of the construction of penetration

The penetration was difficult, required highaccuracy. The underwater tunnel was constructed not from the coast to the coast, in a straight line, but along a curve, and even complicated vertically. Axes could not match no more than five centimeters. No greater deviation from the norm was allowed. And thanks to the well-coordinated and accurate work of specialists, the underwater tunnel near Amur had no more than fifteen millimeters connections.

The construction of penetration was complicated by the fact thatin some places the adit was heavily flooded. But despite this, the speed of lengthening the hole was equal to almost five meters per day. For those times, these rates were unprecedented for the whole world. At the same time, penetration was done by non-mechanized shields. During construction, almost 1.5 million cubic meters of soil were taken out and 137.6 thousand cubic meters of concrete were injected.

Change in construction time

In June 1941, the tunnel assembly was completed. In those days, until the completion of the work, it was required at least another six months. But a telegram came from the State Committee of Defense for Stalin’s personal signature. The message contained the order to start the train through the underwater tunnel in the shortest possible time. Work has been accelerated to the limit. Finally, the scaffolding was dismantled, as well as temporary access roads. In ballast workers poured 8000 cubic meters of rubble. And the main way was prepared. The tunnel near Amur in Khabarovsk was ready to work.

Opening of the tunnel for operation

Stalin specifically indicated the period afterof which the building was to be put into operation - 06/20/1941. The builders had time, on the indicated date, the first train went through the underwater tunnel, in which there were workers and bosses. The train was operated by engineer V. Vozheiko.

04/25/1942 A commission from the government accepted the tunnel on a permanent basis. At the same time, the inspectors rated the structure as good, and the work of surveyors is excellent. The length of the tunnel under Amur was 7198 meters. For normal operation, it was equipped with heating, ventilation and lighting. Clearly placed pumping water, barriers and warning signaling.

On the east side there are three faces,which were made by the open method on the site with a length of 1350 m. The inner diameter of the underwater part of the tunnel is 7400 mm. The eastern part of the structure was located within the precincts of Khabarovsk, the western - near the Post-Pokrovsky station.

At the time, the tunnel was built atmost advanced military technology. The construction had a large margin of safety. It has 7 ventilation shafts. One is on the island, the rest - on both banks of the Amur. Therefore, the tunnel remained for decades. And is in working condition so far.

The Great Patriotic War

During the Second World War all entrances and approaches to the underwaterthe tunnel was carefully guarded. For this, besides roadblocks, anti-aircraft batteries were also installed. One of them was on the bank of the Mad channel. The battery fighter Lelikov later said that a message had been received from the post about an unknown plane heading towards the bridge. The alarm sounded, the anti-aircraft battery was immediately charged with live shells.

After a short time, the plane appeared in the field.visibility. Perhaps he was looking for entrances to the tunnel near Amur. At first, the aircraft was monitored by observers. But the air car, not reaching the available anti-aircraft defense firing line, turned towards Manzhou-Guo. The combat weapon had to be defused. Therefore, from the anti-aircraft gun then later one volley was made.

Exploitation of the underwater tunnel in the war years

From 1944 to 1945 Mostly cargoes destined for war with Japan were transported through the tunnel. Then the submarine railway was adapted to pass military units and all types of transport. When the fighting ended, the tunnel was mothballed as a secret object. The railway tunnel under Amur was guarded by armed fighters with dogs.

The use of the tunnel in the postwar years

Since 1960 The submarine railway was used to transport various cargoes in order to increase the carrying capacity of the Amursky Bridge. Since the tunnel has only one path, the movement was directed only in one direction - in the western direction. In 1980, the electrification of the Khabarovsk-Bira Far Eastern Railway was completed. After this, passenger trains, including suburban ones, also began to drive through the tunnel.

The tunnel in modern times

In modern times, the railway tunnel underCupid needs a major overhaul. The construction was intensively used for fifty years. The tunnel is a unique object that needs to be saved. At the time of construction, the structure was the longest underwater railway in the whole world.

Although the tunnel requires a majorrepair, the object remains as safe and reliable as before. The movement of trains is carried out smoothly. And small defects do not violate the integrity of the tunnel. In 2009, the Amur Bridge was reconstructed. Since that year, it consists of two paths.

Tunnel near Cupid for a long time of operationbegan to collapse. In many places, a small leak appeared. The shafts of the mines began to rot. The tunnel accumulates more and more debris and ballast. A change in the dimensions of the structure is required. And now in the plans of builders - overhaul of a unique underwater tunnel. Therefore, reconstruction projects are already being prepared. Soon there will be a grand repair, which will correct the situation for the better.