'I just hope the route is open on time'

The Vung Ang - Bung expressway project is over 50km long, passing through the two provinces of Ha Tinh and Quang Binh, and was originally scheduled to be completed on September 30. Currently, adjacent routes such as Bai Vot - Ham Nghi, Ham Nghi - Vung Ang and Bung - Van Ninh have been completed or are about to be put into operation, so the Ministry of Construction requested to shorten the progress, striving to open the route on June 30 to ensure continuous connection for the North - South expressway phase 1.

According to Project Management Board 6 (Ministry of Construction), the project investor, to date, the construction output of the entire route has reached over 85%. Contractors are maintaining a high construction pace, working continuously day and night to reach the finish line.

In Ky Hoa commune (Ky Anh town, Ha Tinh), an urgent atmosphere covers the construction site of bridge No. 1 - one of the most important items of the Vung Ang - Bung expressway project. The bridge is nearly 1km long, spanning the valley between two hills, with a total investment of 300 billion VND, including 22 spans, many of which are 30 to nearly 50m high.

The Commander of Hoa Binh 479 Joint Stock Company shared: The project has complex terrain and high technical requirements. To ensure progress, the team had to work 3 shifts continuously, even during holidays. Up to now, 16/22 bridge spans have been completed with the goal of opening the route in June, and there can be no more delay.

The accelerated atmosphere is also present in the items undertaken by Son Hai Group Company Limited. This contractor is completing the second asphalt concrete layer (C19) for 5km of the main route, while focusing on the construction of Deo But tunnel - the key item of the entire project, with a total investment of more than 1,000 billion VND.

Deo But Tunnel consists of two tubes: the left tunnel is 716m long, the right tunnel is 840m long. Up to now, the right tunnel tube has completed 95% of the volume, including items such as tunnel surface concrete, lighting system, fire prevention and fighting system... Meanwhile, the left tunnel is being drilled and reinforced with the roof, it is expected that there will be about 100,000m3 of soil and rock that need to be dug out in the near future.

The urgent atmosphere is also present at the Tien Chau - Van Hoa intersection - the construction site that was handed over the land the latest on the route. Here, workers work in shifts day and night to ensure progress. A worker shared: "We almost don't have time to rest, one shift after another. On rainy days, we don't dare to stop for long for fear of affecting the plan. Everyone is determined to try their best, just hoping that the route will be opened in June."

Mr. Nguyen Van Hung (from Nghe An) said: "Every year I try to ask to go home for a few days during this time, but this year I can't. The project is in the final stages, everyone is determined to work through the holidays. I miss home so much, but work must come first."

Quick meals

The 88km Quang Ngai - Hoai Nhon Expressway connects Quang Ngai and Binh Dinh provinces with an investment capital of VND20,400 billion invested by Project Management Board 2. There are 3 tunnels through the mountain, of which tunnel number 3 is 3,200m long and is the longest road tunnel on the North - South Expressway to date.

On April 28, the right tunnel No. 3 was officially dug, but the remaining items to be completed synchronously, opened to traffic and put into operation in 2025 as directed by the Prime Minister require great efforts from the investor and contractor when there is not much time left in 2025.

To ensure that each task is completed, hundreds of workers at the construction site during the April 30 and May 1 holidays still work in "3 shifts, 4 shifts". At the Quang Ngai - Hoai Nhon expressway construction site, contractors still maintain dozens of construction teams, the project site is still bustling with the sound of equipment, many contractors work through the night with the basic determination to complete the project in 2025.

Mr. Ngo Truong Nam, General Director of Deo Ca Group Joint Stock Company, said that taking care of every meal, rest time, and health check for workers and engineers working on the project is one of the important tasks at the construction site of the Quang Ngai - Hoai Nhon expressway project. To further ensure health, the company also added milk to improve nutrition to help improve health when working inside deep tunnels.

Worker Dang Manh Hung (Nghe An) shared: Putting aside the holidays, he and his teammates are determined to complete the project. The construction environment is difficult, lacking air due to working in the tunnel, but thanks to the contractor's attention from meals to health care, the workers can work with peace of mind.

At the Huu Nghi - Chi Lang expressway construction site, taking advantage of the sunny weather, Deo Ca Group and other units are organizing 182 construction teams, mobilizing 2,000 workers and more than 1,000 pieces of equipment. Similarly, at the Dong Dang - Tra Linh expressway construction site, the joint venture contractor led by Deo Ca Group mobilized 216 construction teams, more than 2,200 workers and more than 1,100 pieces of equipment to work throughout the holiday.

"Previously, Deo Ca Group proactively supported an additional 10% advance payment for contractors to add 79 construction teams, 212 equipment and 617 workers. The construction output to date has reached 23% of the contract value. We aim to open the project phase 1 in December 2025 and are ready to start the project phase 2 on September 2," said Mr. Nguyen Duc Tuan, Deputy General Director of the project enterprise.

Racing to meet the schedule, at the construction site of the XL01 package of the North-South Expressway, Chi Thanh - Van Phong section, more than 200 personnel and 76 pieces of machinery from Deo Ca are on duty throughout the day to increase production.

Entering the final stage of the Chi Thanh - Van Phong project, Thang Long Corporation is also taking advantage of every day of favorable weather to complete the assigned work early. This enterprise is also mobilizing 5 construction teams with 120 workers, more than 70 pieces of equipment have been constructed throughout the holidays and days off.

"For the asphalt concrete category, Thang Long Corporation is focusing on mass construction, aiming to finish by June 30, 2025, 6 months faster than the contract signed with the investor (December 31, 2025) and 2 months faster than the traffic opening deadline required by the Prime Minister (September 2, 2025)," shared the leader of Thang Long Corporation.

Phan Trang

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/cong-truong-khong-nghi-le-va-nhung-bua-com-an-voi-tren-cao-toc-bac-nam-102250502115644936.htm