Tibet Laze Expressway Guijia La Tunnel Project
At the Guigala Tunnel on the Lhasa–Zetang Expressway in Tibet (elevation above 4,000 m), Beizhu's Warm Mix Asphalt Foaming Device reduced paving temperatures by 35°C, cutting fume generation by over 60% in the enclosed tunnel environment while maintaining full mix workability.
Project Background
The Guigala Tunnel on the Lhasa–Zetang Expressway in Tibet required high-performance asphalt paving at elevations above 4,000 m above sea level. The closed tunnel environment, combined with extreme altitude and cold temperatures, made conventional hot-mix asphalt (HMA) paving technically challenging: hot-mix fumes were trapped in the tunnel, posing health and safety risks, while the altitude caused significant temperature drop from production to laying.
Challenge
The project demanded a paving solution that would: (1) drastically reduce fume generation in the enclosed tunnel; (2) maintain mix workability despite altitude-induced temperature loss and rapid cooling; (3) produce a finished surface meeting expressway structural standards.
Solution
Beizhu deployed the FPJ-1 Warm Mix Asphalt Foaming Device inline with the mixing plant. By injecting a precise volume of water-based foam into the asphalt binder at the drum, paving temperatures were reduced by 35°C versus conventional HMA—without any chemical additive. The foaming process sustained mix workability throughout the tunnel haul and compaction window.
Results
Tunnel paving was completed successfully with no cold joints or compaction defects. Fume generation was reduced by over 60% compared with conventional hot-mix, meeting tunnel safety requirements. The finished course achieved full structural performance in subsequent core testing, confirming that warm-mix foamed asphalt is suitable for high-altitude closed-environment paving.