The Race Against Time: Dong Dang – Tra Linh Expressway Project
According to Deo Ca Group JSC, on the evening of December 1st, Mr. Le Hai Hoa, Chairman of Cao Bang Provincial People’s Committee, inspected the Dong Dang (Lang Son) – Tra Linh (Cao Bang) expressway project at locations Km60, Km55, Km38, and Km11. The inspection took place with less than 20 days remaining until the Phase 1 completion deadline set by the Prime Minister.
The project aims to open approximately 65-70km of sections before December 19th, with the remaining large river bridges, landslide-prone slopes, and newly discovered caster caves to be completed before the Lunar New Year. The goal is to have the entire route open with asphalt concrete and gravel layers, except for some additional bridge sections.
Mr. Dang Tien Thang, CEO of Dong Dang – Tra Linh Expressway JSC, stated that over 3,000 workers and 1,400 pieces of equipment are deployed across multiple construction sites. To date, the project has reached 5,458 out of 6,828 billion VND in value, equivalent to over 80% of the Phase 1 completion plan.
The project management is urging contractors to mobilize additional equipment and personnel to accelerate work on critical sections, aiming to meet the December 19th deadline.
Less than 20 days remain until the Phase 1 completion deadline set by the Prime Minister (Photo: Deo Ca)
Mr. Dang Tien Thang shared, “Despite the recent heavy rains and floods, all project staff, engineers, and workers are committed to maximizing efforts to meet the deadline. This is our commitment to the government, local authorities, and especially the people.”
Mr. Nguyen Ba Khuong, Chairman of the Board of 568 Construction Investment Corporation (both investor and contractor), reported that construction intensity across the route is at an all-time high. Work is ongoing for 22 out of 24 hours daily to recover from delays caused by the floods.
At Km11 (Van Lang commune, Lang Son province), contractors are deploying concrete transport vehicles and modern paving equipment to lay asphalt on a 150-meter section. This marks a significant milestone in the construction process, reaffirming the commitment to meet the December technical completion deadline.
During the inspection, the Chairman of Cao Bang Provincial People’s Committee emphasized that the expressway’s completion will significantly boost tourism and border trade in the region.
To address land clearance issues, Cao Bang authorities pledged close coordination with Lang Son province to ensure no delays, allowing contractors to focus on accelerating construction.
Mr. Hoa encouraged engineers and workers to overcome challenges, maximize every moment, and expedite construction to meet the Phase 1 technical completion target.
One of the Most Challenging Projects Today
The Dong Dang (Lang Son) – Tra Linh (Cao Bang) expressway was approved under Decision No. 1212/QĐ-TTg dated August 10, 2020, by the Prime Minister, implemented as a public-private partnership (PPP).
Spanning 121km with a total investment of nearly 23 trillion VND, the project is divided into two phases. Upon completion, travel time from Cao Bang to Hanoi will be reduced from 6-7 hours to approximately 3.5 hours.
With its karst geology and treacherous terrain, this is one of the most challenging projects in the country today (Photo: Deo Ca)
Phase 1, launched on January 1, 2024, covers 93.35km, including 2 mountain tunnels and 64 bridges over the Ky Cung and Bang Giang rivers, as well as numerous streams and provincial roads. Deo Ca Group leads the consortium implementing the project.
Phase 2 began on August 19th as part of the program to commence and inaugurate 250 projects celebrating the 80th National Day. This phase expands the entire 93.35km of Phase 1 to a 4-lane highway and extends 26.47km to Tra Linh border gate, with a total investment of 12,072 billion VND.
According to the Government’s portal, Mr. Do Trong Khanh, Deputy Director of Cao Bang Province’s Transport Project Management Board, noted that due to the karst geology and hazardous terrain, Minister of Construction Tran Hong Minh described the project as one of the most challenging in the country during his June 30th inspection.
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