Abstract:Under the strong national policy guidance, the construction of utility tunnel has achieved the significant development and progress in China. Utility tunnels have the notable comprehensive benefits in resolving the “road zipper” problems, enhancing the pipeline management efficiency, intensively developing the underground space, promoting the industrial development, and strengthening the urban resilience. The design of utility tunnel vents directly impacts the environmental quality, equipment operational safety and personnel work safety within the utility tunnel. The vents are the key structures and core carriers in the underground utility tunnel systems. Relying on the Chongqing Kexue Avenue Jiulongpo Section Utility Tunnel Project, the different air vent forms (conventional air vents, sunken air vents and co-constructed air vents) are comprehensively compared and analyzed from the aspects such as cross-sectional dimensions, soil cover depth, burial depth of utility tunnel, number of compartments, engineering cost, landscape effect and later maintenance. The design essentials of sunken air vents and long-distance air vents are analyzed and summarized in order to provide some reference and experience for the similar projects.