Asia's largest underground urban complex takes shape in Wuhan

A complex dubbed "the largest underground urban complex in Asia" has been constructed in Wuhan, Hubei Province. (Photo/Video screenshot on CNSTV)

(ECNS) -- Primary construction work on the massive Optics Valley Square, dubbed "the largest underground urban complex in Asia", was completed on Sunday in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province.

Included in the construction project was the building of three subway lines and two utility tunnels, which created 1.8 million cubic meters of excavated soil.

The complex has three interchange levels to serve Line 9, Line 2, and Line 11 as well as public spaces and a road tunnel. It's expected the daily passenger flow through the complex will reach 400,000 due to its connectivity with nearby offices.

It also features a gallery-like installation made using 1,410 tons of steel.

The project is located in the heart of Donghu New Technology Development Zone, also known as Optics Valley due to it being a thriving hub of optical technology.

Zheng Guanghui, vice general manager of the business department of Wuhan Metro, said construction work began at the end of 2014 and involved a total area of 146,000 square meters in floor space, equivalent to 21 standard football fields, with workers digging as deep as 34 meters.

Liang Shuibin, a project manager with builder China Railway 11th Bureau Group, said a number of breakthrough technologies were used during the construction process to minimize the impact on surrounding high-rise buildings and traffic.