The Great Span: Uniting the North and South with a Mighty River Crossing

The Song Gianh Bridge is a key component of the XL-02 package, which is part of the Vung Ang – Bung section of the North-South Expressway in Quang Binh Province, spanning the 2021-2025 period. Spanning the Song Gianh River, the bridge connects Quang Thanh commune in Quang Trach district with Quang Hai, Quang Tan, and Quang Loc communes in Ba Don town. Designed with a length of approximately 2.8 kilometers and a width of 17.5 meters, the bridge accommodates four lanes of traffic and boasts an investment of over VND 1,000 billion. As of now, the construction progress of the Song Gianh Bridge has surpassed 90% of the planned volume.

According to Mr. Tran Hai Dang, the timely completion of the Song Gianh Bridge can be attributed to the local government’s proactive efforts in land clearance. From the outset, 90% of the land required for construction was promptly handed over to the contractor, enabling them to simultaneously work on various sections of the project. Additionally, the XL-02 package, which traverses Quang Trach, Bo Trach districts, and Ba Don town, has also witnessed significant progress in land clearance, providing the contractor with the necessary conditions to work on multiple fronts and meet the deadlines set by the investor.

Mr. Dang further highlighted the challenges encountered during the construction of the Song Gianh Bridge due to the region’s complex geology and constantly changing soil layers. To stay on schedule, the contractor mobilized a large number of machinery and experienced engineers, with round-the-clock support from the investor and consulting supervisors who closely monitored the site to address any issues that arose during construction.

The construction of the Song Gianh Bridge required the installation of over 100 bridge piers, more than half of which were located in positions with stacked karst caves beneath the riverbed. However, thanks to the timely advice and consultation provided by the Transportation Engineering Design Consultancy Joint Stock Corporation (TEDI), the contractor was able to successfully overcome this challenge by pumping concrete into the caves to create permanent walls, injecting grout, and utilizing advanced drilling technology.

Mr. Phan Van Son, Director of the Land Development Center of Quang Trach district, shared that the North-South Expressway project, spanning 25 kilometers in the district, has been recognized as a national key project. The local authorities have actively expedited land clearance, and the endeavor has been met with great support and cooperation from the residents, particularly in terms of embracing the project’s objectives and compensation plans. As a result, the district has achieved a remarkable 99.9% land handover rate.