Prime Minister Challenges Deo Ca: “Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way” – Innovative Tunneling Method to Slash 8 Months Off 20 Trillion VND Expressway Project Timeline

On the morning of December 17th, the Construction Newspaper hosted a seminar titled “Momentum from 3,000km of Expressway.” Deputy Minister of Construction Lê Anh Tuấn attended and delivered a keynote speech. The event was graced by the presence of leading transportation enterprises, who have significantly contributed to Vietnam’s breakthrough in highway investment.

During the seminar, Mr. Nguyễn Quang Huy, CEO of Deo Ca Group, emphasized that the completion of 3,000km of expressway by 2025 is a monumental achievement, with Deo Ca playing a pivotal role in this success.

Mr. Huy stated, “Deo Ca is not only focused on tunnel construction but is also continuously enhancing its capabilities in large-scale road and bridge projects. However, it’s important to note that Deo Ca’s core expertise stems from mountain tunnel construction, starting with the Deo Ca Tunnel.”

Regarding the Quang Ngai – Hoai Nhon project, it stands out as one of the most significant components with numerous large-scale mountain tunnels among the 12 sub-projects of the North-South Expressway Phase 2. Tunnel No. 3, with a length of 3.2km, is the third longest after the Hai Van and Deo Ca tunnels and is set to be inaugurated on December 19th.

Recalling discussions with Project Management Unit 2, Mr. Huy shared, “Based on our experience, we meticulously calculated the timeline for Tunnel No. 3 and concluded that it couldn’t be completed in less than 48 months. However, during a site visit, the Prime Minister posed a challenge: ‘By December, all North-South Expressway projects will be operational, except for Tunnel No. 3 between Quang Ngai and Binh Dinh. What’s Deo Ca’s plan?'”

Rising to the challenge, Deo Ca’s leadership pledged to the Prime Minister to complete the project on schedule, ensuring the North-South Expressway’s full operation by December 2025. We immediately convened meetings, consulted experts, and devised innovative solutions.

Traditionally, tunnel construction proceeds from two ends. To expedite progress, Deo Ca expanded the workspace within the tunnel, allowing for more equipment and machinery. We increased the excavation rate from 1-3 meters to 4-6 meters per step, significantly accelerating the timeline.

Another challenge was water supply during the dry season. We innovated a water recycling system, filtering and reusing over 90% of the water, a solution now patented with Vietnam’s Intellectual Property Office.

In the final stages, we deployed 10 alternating formwork sets for simultaneous concrete lining, compared to the usual 2 sets, minimizing completion time. This model will be replicated in future tunnel projects, and we’re eager to share our expertise with partners to foster collective growth among Vietnamese enterprises.

The Quang Ngai – Hoai Nhon Expressway, spanning 88km with an investment of 20.47 trillion VND, traverses Quang Ngai and Gia Lai provinces. It’s one of the 12 sub-projects of the North-South Expressway, initiated in early 2023, featuring the longest tunnel on the route.

Initially slated for completion in September 2026, Tunnel No. 3’s timeline was shortened by 8 months to meet the Prime Minister’s directive for a 2025 completion.

At the seminar, Mr. Huy highlighted the challenges of introducing new technology in Vietnam due to lengthy legal procedures. Over 40 years in infrastructure, Deo Ca has adapted by refining existing technologies before adopting new ones, exemplified by our improved NATM tunneling method.

Similarly, in road surfacing technology, Deo Ca has drawn insights from Europe and Malaysia. We advise potential partners that entering the Vietnamese market requires patience and commitment.