(Construction newspaper) - This is the conclusion of the State Acceptance Council of Construction Works at the meeting on inspecting the acceptance of Hai Van tunnel expansion project phase 2, under the Investment Project of constructing tunnel through Ca Pass (located in Phu Loc district, Thua Thien - Hue province and Lien Chieu district, Da Nang city) on November 20, in Da Nang.

Deputy Minister of Construction Le Quang Hung - Standing Vice Chairman of Council, Deputy Minister of Transport Le Dinh Tho and Vice Chairman of People's Committee of Thua Thien – Hue Nguyen Van Phuong co-chair the meeting.

Attending the meeting were representatives of the Ministry of Transport, the Standing Agency of the Council, the investor, the constructors, the supervision consultant, the Experts Council and related agencies ...

The Standing Vice Chairman of the Council Le Quang Hung basically agrees to the report and approved to operate Hai Van 2 tunnel.

Overcoming difficulties, trying to complete beyond schedule

The project of expanding Hai Van tunnel phase 2 is invested by Deo Ca Investment Joint Stock Company. Hai Van 2 tunnel is the last item of the Project of tunnel through Ca pass (including Deo Ca tunnel, Co Ma tunnel, Cu Mong tunnel and Hai Van tunnel), constructed in two phases.

Hai Van tunnel project

In phase 1, upgrade, repair and renovate items including: National Road 1 section crossing Hai Van pass (about 25km); Hai Van 1 tunnel; the road and bridge on the leading route to Hai Van 1 tunnel (the items of this phase has been inspected by the State Acceptance Council in August 2017).

In phase 2, expand Hai Van tunnel, including: the road and bridge of the new route; complete the road and bridge to Hai Van 1 tunnel; the expansion of Hai Van 2; the works and equipment of management, operation and maintenance.

The project has the starting point in Lang Co town, Phu Loc district, Thua Thien - Hue province. The ending point is in Lien Chieu district, Da Nang city. The item of Hai Van 2 tunnel expansion (about 6.29km long) has the direction coincides with the centerline of the existing evacuation tunnel, about 30m from the center of Hai Van 1 tunnel. The tunnel has 02 lanes, 9.75m wide.

The leading road part (about 1,79km in the north, 4,06km in the south): constructing under the scale of plain grade III road with 02 motor lanes, design speed of 80km/h; the bridge part: design load is HL93 with 02 lanes scale.

According to the representative of the investor, Hai Van 2 tunnel is constructed in the situation of both constructing and ensuring safety for Hai Van 1 which is in operation (ensuring the limit of: the time to close the tunnel for blasting, controlling the tremor, monitoring the deformation of Hai Van tunnel shell); offering solutions to proactively control and deal with landslide due to geological changes of each segment and each tunnel for timely and effective treatment.

In addition, during the implementation, the project also delayed by Covid-19 epidemic, the implementation of social distancing under the direction of the Government and local authorities also affected the progress. However, with the efforts of the investor and the parties involved in the project, the construction has been organized, safety and quality ensured in accordance with the current design documents and technical standards. The project was completed on September 30, 2020, 03 months ahead of schedule approved by the Ministry of Transport.

The delegation of the State Acceptance Council inspected Hai Van tunnel project phase 2.

According to the completion progress of work items, the Internal Acceptance Council of Investor organized the acceptance test for the completion of bidding packages and fulfilled all legal conditions to prepare a Completion Report, propose the Standing State Acceptance Council to inspect and report to the State Acceptance Council for consideration and approval of the pre-acceptance test results in order to put the work into operation and use.

However, according to the investor, the construction work up to now has been completed, but the existing difficulty is the project's financial plan has been broken due to the State's commitment in the BOT contract has not been fulfilled. Therefore, in order to contribute to promoting investment efficiency and soon put the project into operation and use, the investor also proposed the Ministry of Transport, Da Nang City People's Committee, Thua Thien - Hue Provincial People's Committee to propose the competent agencies have solutions before officially putting the project into operation.

The delegation inspects the cracks in Hai Van 1 tunnel shell.

At the meeting, the opinions of representatives of surveying contractors, construction supervision contractors, construction contractors, quality verification consultants ... all stated that the works are eligible for acceptance and putting into exploitation.

The project is eligible for vehicles circulation and exploitation

With the assessment of the Expert team of Standing Agency of the Council, for the work items in phase 1, the Standing Agency has issued a written approval of the investor's acceptance results in August 2017.

For Hai Van road tunnel expansion phase 2, in general, the shortcomings pointed by the Standing Agency and experts after each inspection are overcome by the investor, supervision consultant and contractors. Up to now, all construction items have been completed.

Base on quality management documents, results of work inspections, reports of supervision, design and quality verification consulting units, representatives of competent State agencies (Project Management Board 85) and the opinions of Council's Expert show that Hai Van tunnel expansion project phase 2 has been basically constructed according to the design, the investor has organized the acceptance of the construction items and complete legal procedures as prescribed.

The Council recognizes Deo Ca’s capacity proved through 4 major projects: Co Ma, Deo Ca, Cu Mong, Hai Van tunnels.

However, Standing Agency proposed Council to request the competent State agency to soon consider and decide on the survey and re-evaluation of the cracking problem in Hai Van 1 tunnel shell according to the recommendations of Investor, to soon have a basis to implement the next steps for this item (such as repairing cracks if necessary, tiles the tunnel shell according to the approved design).

At the same time, the Standing agency required the investor to strictly comply with the regulations on management of operation and maintenance of the works approved by the competent authority and the BOT contract to ensure the safety of exploitation and the longevity of the project; Strictly complying with the requirements on ensuring fire prevention and fighting safety, environmental safety; monitoring the state of tunnel structure ...

The State Acceptance Council inspect the tunnel operating system

Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Minister of Transport Le Dinh Tho said that with 4 big projects Co Ma, Deo Ca, Cu Mong, Hai Van tunnel with nearly 25km long of tunnel sections, along the North - South National Road 1 there is no dangerous location existing, the route has been completely clear through, Hai Van tunnel expansion project phase 2 further affirmed the capacity and exemplarity in the management of construction investment, management of construction and progress control of Deo Ca Investment Joint Stock Company.

This is an international stature project implemented by domestic contractors; to be responsible for the implementation by the authorities, strictly follow the current regulations. The final result is the State Acceptance Council assessed to be eligible for conditions and regulations in construction investment management.

Overview of the meeting.

According to the opinion of the investor, the experts, from the implementation to the end of the investment; Regarding the progress, quality and necessary procedures to put into operation, the project is eligible for traffic circulation and will conduct acceptance test for completion when the investor completes all requirements from the State Acceptance Council.

The Deputy Minister of Transport also requested the investor to overcome the shortcomings pointed out by the State Acceptance Council. With the responsibility of the governing body, after the second tunnel is put into operation, the Ministry of Transport will research, inspect and re-evaluate the old tunnel and offer solutions for problem if any, consult The State Acceptance Council in order to synchronously and sustainably exploit 02 tunnels in the coming time.

The operation of Hai Van 2 tunnel will contribute to promoting socio-economic efficiency, eliminating dangerous black spots of traffic congestion, improving road transport capacity, connecting Thua Thien - Hue, Da Nang city with localities in the region.

The leading roads of Hai Van tunnel.

Base on the opinions at the meeting and opinions of representatives of the Council, Standing Vice Chairman of the Council Le Quang Hung praised the efforts of investors, construction contractors, supervisors, and competent State agency for completing project beyond schedule. The Council basically agreed to the report and approve to open for traffic and operate Hai Van 2 tunnel. After a period, the operation parameters will be considered and the work will be accepted as completed.

By NGOC HA