Unveiling the Mystery: The Intriguing Phenomenon During the Construction of the 23,000 Billion VND Highway Connecting Lang Son and Cao Bang

According to the Government Portal, on June 30, Minister of Construction Tran Hong Minh inspected and received progress reports on the Dong Dang – Tra Linh Expressway project.

This 121-kilometer-long expressway is divided into two investment phases with a total investment of nearly VND 23,000 billion. The project is developed by a consortium of Deo Ca Group, ICV Infrastructure Investment and Construction Joint Stock Company, Deo Ca Transport Infrastructure Investment Joint Stock Company, and Construction Company 568.

Mr. Dang Tien Thang, CEO of the project enterprise, reported that the localities have handed over 93.14/93.35 km of land (equivalent to 99%) for project implementation.

The contractors currently mobilize 1,500 equipment and 3,260 workers along the route, with a production output of about 31.5% of the project value. Resources are being mobilized at a high level, with the number of machinery and manpower increasing by 1.5 to 2 times compared to before, to expand the construction sites and shorten the project schedule.

The road contractor has excavated 13.81/23 million m3, completed embankment construction of 7.25/15 million m3, and built 410/511 culverts and underpasses. 54/59 bridge items are under construction.

However, the project still faces challenges in site clearance. Notably, there are about 15 households along the route that have not yet relocated, with 7.92 hectares of technically designed land yet to be handed over, and waste disposal sites not fully allocated…

In addition, abnormal weather conditions and prolonged rain have impacted construction work, and the project enterprise anticipates potential soil erosion that could affect road excavation and embankment construction.

Notably, during the construction of several bridges along the route, six underground hang caster were discovered. “Hang caster” (also known as karst) is a special geological phenomenon characterized by the formation of caves, holes, or voids in the ground, usually due to the dissolution of limestone or dolomite.

Constructing a road through an area with hang caster can lead to incidents such as subsidence and instability of structures, especially when encountering large sinkholes or when constructing drilled shafts. Currently, the project enterprise is focusing on inspection and clearance along the entire route.

During the site visit, the project enterprise proposed that the People’s Committees of Lang Son and Cao Bang provinces complete site clearance, including technical design, relocation of technical infrastructure, and handover of waste disposal sites by July 15.

Furthermore, the project enterprise requested the People’s Committee of Cao Bang province to expedite the progress of adjusting the first phase of the project, sign the project contract appendix in July 2025 to ensure conditions for opening the route in 2025, and complete the approval of the second phase to allow investors to commence the next phase on August 19.

Given the heavy rain and its potential impact on construction progress, Minister Tran Hong Minh instructed the investor and contractor to take advantage of sunny days, mobilize maximum machinery, equipment, and workers, and work overnight to accelerate project progress.

At the same time, the Minister requested that the localities within the project’s scope promptly address difficulties and obstacles to enable the enterprise to complete the project, ensuring the goal of opening the route this year and commencing the second phase on August 19.