The application discloses a tunnel expansion method for ensuring existing tunnel traffic, which comprises the following steps: setting a movable lining capable of moving longitudinally in the existing tunnel to form a traffic protection space, adopting a hollow rotary tunneling
machine with an outer
diameter matched with the expansion span and an inner
diameter matched with the outer contour of the existing tunnel, and performing annular
cutting and expansion with the existing tunnel entrance and exit as the starting and receiving ends; performing primary support synchronously during the tunneling process, and the protection length of the movable lining is always ahead of the
tunneling length; after the expansion is completed, the tunneling
machine is disassembled, secondary lining and auxiliary facilities are constructed, the original support of the existing tunnel is removed under the protection of the movable lining, and finally the movable lining is removed to complete the expansion. The application realizes uninterrupted existing traffic during the whole tunnel expansion, greatly reduces the disturbance of construction to surrounding rock and surrounding buildings, is safe and efficient in construction, and is suitable for large-span tunnel expansion projects of urban and busy traffic lines.