On December 7, 2024, the excavation of the 500-meter-long Dong Khe tunnel was successfully completed two months ahead of schedule, marking a significant milestone in the Dong Dang (Lang Son province) - Tra Linh (Cao Bang province) expressway project.
Responding to the Prime Minister’s call for construction efforts to “conquer the sun, overcome the rain”, operate in “three shifts and four crews”, and “work day and night”, the project enterprise and contractors have mobilized 1,132 personnel, 398 pieces of equipment, and have simultaneously executed work on 40 construction fronts 24/7 with the aim of opening the route by 2025. To date, the construction output has reached 24.7 million USD out of the total 393.7 million USD, achieving 6.26% of the plan and meeting the scheduled progress.
Dong Khe tunnel
On November 26, the right branch of Dong Khe tunnel was successfully excavated, marking it the first component of Dong Dang – Tra Linh expressway project to complete excavation and reinforcement. To complete the excavation of both tunnel branches, engineering and worker teams overcame numerous challenges, particularly geological difficulties, achieving an average construction speed of 2.86 meters per day.
Following the tunnel breakthrough, the teams will proceed with the next phases, including subgrade excavation, reinforcement, formwork installation for tunnel lining concreting, and the installation of the ITS equipment system.
According to the representative of the project's general contractor, the Northeast mountainous region, particularly provinces like Cao Bang and Lang Son, is characterized by towering limestone ranges along with a dense network of caves. Despite rigorous efforts, encountering karst terrain at Dong Dang – Tra Linh construction site remains an anticipated risk that requires technical solutions to ensure construction safety and project quality.
Regarding technology, contractors have employed the NATM “DEOCA system” method – an advanced and flexible tunnel excavation technique suitable for various geological conditions. Additionally, DEOCA Group's modern equipment system, including drilling machines and automated spraying machines, has also been utilized to enhance efficiency and ensure high safety standards throughout the construction process.
At Dong Dang - Tra Linh expressway project, in response to the Prime Minister’s directive at the commencement ceremony regarding local workforce training support, in November, DEOCA Group established the DEOCA Research and Training Institute to develop human resources on-site.
Class at DEOCA Research and Training Institute.
The center was established with the purpose of providing a training model that enhances practical competence for workers and engineers, and operational management capabilities for managers. Trainees receive instruction not only in advanced construction technologies such as Building Information Modeling (BIM) but also in green technology applications for transportation infrastructure.
The center serves as both a dedicated training facility for locally recruited workers and a hub for enrolling and training local talent for future employment. Once operational, it will not only function as a training institution but also as a modern laboratory, enabling learners to practice with cutting-edge technology models.
Dong Dang - Tra Linh expressway project spans a total length of 121 km and is divided into two investment phases. In phase 1, the expressway spans over 93 km, including two main tunnels. The route commences at Tan Thanh border gate interchange (Van Lang district, Lang Son province) and concludes at National Highway 3 interchange (Chi Thao commune, Quang Hoa district, Cao Bang province). The project in phase 1 has a total investment exceeding 560 million USD, with the Cao Bang Provincial People's Committee serving as the competent state authority and DEOCA Group leading the consortium of investors. In phase 2, the project will involve investment in the remaining 28 km of Dong Dang - Tra Linh expressway connecting with Tra Linh border gate. Dong Dang – Tra Linh expressway project is expected to serve as a vital expressway for international trade, which contributes to enhancing competitiveness, fostering socio-economic development, and reinforcing national security and defense at both regional and national levels. |
News: Huy Vu
