The construction of the second tunnel of the Chelyabinsk metrotram has started — on April 9, 2026, the Maria tunnel boring machine began moving from the future Ovchinnikova Street station towards the Shopping Center. For the right running tunnel with a length of 2170 meters, the installation of 1549 rings made of high-quality reinforced concrete will be required.
The Maria complex, previously used in the construction of the Big Circle Line of the Moscow Metro, underwent a special modernization for Chelyabinsk conditions. For work in mixed soils — from clay to rocky formations — a new rotor was delivered from a factory in China, capable of working effectively in any geological conditions.
The work is being carried out by a subcontractor — 16th Administration of CRCC LLC (Chinese holding CRCC). Representatives of the company note that difficulties already arose during the construction of the first tunnel due to the heterogeneity of local soils, but the universal working body of the shield allows drilling to continue, albeit with stricter technological regulations.
The North-South metrotram project was revived in 2021 at the initiative of the President of Russia, and the direct tunneling began in December 2025. The completion of the first line is planned for 2027. Due to the work, Kaslinskaya Street will remain closed to traffic until June 2027.
