Cofferdam construction and power-line relocation advance for Gezhouba expansion

By Chen Zai

Construction of the Gezhouba Navigation Capacity Expansion Project is advancing rapidly as cofferdam construction and power line relocation move ahead smoothly.

On October 25, cofferdam construction for the Gezhouba navigation expansion - part of the Three Gorges new waterway project - is underway. Photo by Huang Xiang.

Cofferdams are temporary hydraulic structures that hold back water to allow construction in dry conditions. The upstream and downstream cofferdams, 835.94 and 960.85 meters long respectively, will enclose the lock site for old-lock demolition and new locks' concrete work.

Electricity cables are being relocated. Photo by Wu Yanling.

Power cable relocation has also reached a key milestone after the first conductor spanning the Gezhouba Sanjiang navigation channel was installed on October 23. Installation of all 14 conductors is expected to continue through October 28.

Gezhouba ship lock cargo throughput grew from under 4 million tons in 1981 to 178 million in 2025. The expansion will further boost navigation capacity on the Yangtze’s main stem.

The main construction involves demolishing the No. 3 ship lock to build two new 10,000-ton-capacity locks on the same site. Upon completion, the Gezhouba complex will feature four ship-lock lines with a combined two-way annual capacity of 360 million tons.