Because　of　weak　surrounding　rock,　tunnels　constructed　in　loose　deposits　are　prone　to　collapse,　and　secondary　linings　commonly　suffer　excessive　deformation.　Therefore,　it　is　important　to　select　an　appropriate　excavation　scheme,　which　will　affect　both　tunnel　construction　safety　and　subsequent　tunnel　operations.　This　paper　takes　the　Tingziba　tunnel,　a　highway　tunnel　shallowly　buried　in　loose　deposits　of　diluvial　and　proluvial　origin,　as　an　example.　During　construction,　this　tunnel　experienced　many　instances　of　vault　collapse　and　advanced　support　destruction.　Isotropically　consolidated　drained　(CD)　compression　tests　were　carried　out　on　reconstituted　specimens　to　obtain　the　mechanical　parameters　of　the　loose　deposits.　Three-dimensional　modeling　was　performed　to　simulate　stress　and　deformation　distributions　in　the　tunnel　after　excavation　by　three　different　schemes,　i.e.,up　and　down　bench　tunneling,　three-bench　tunneling,　and　single-side　heading　tunneling.　The　comparative　analysis　results　showed　that　single-side　heading　tunneling　was　more　suitable　for　this　tunnel　and　could　both　reduce　vault　displacement　and　constrain　plastic　zone　development.　The　results　should　be　significant　for　tunnel　design　and　construction　in　similar　geologic　environments.　(C)　2015　American　Society　of　Civil　Engineers.