On January 16, That Khe Tunnel on Dong Dang (Lang Son) – Tra Linh (Cao Bang) Expressway successfully broken through, two months ahead of schedule. This makes an important mark of mountain tunnel excavation works.
According to the Project Enterprise, in order to achieve breakthrough for the 200-meter-long That Khe Tunnel in Trang Dinh District, Lang Son Province, engineers and workers overcame multiple challenges, particularly geological difficulties, maintaining an average excavation speed of 2.73 meters per day.
That Khe Tunnel on Dong Dang – Tra Linh expressway successfully breakthrough
Following the tunnel breakthrough, the construction team will proceed with subsequent stages, including lowering the tunnel base, reinforcement, installation of formwork for concrete lining, and the implementation of ITS systems. Earlier, in January 2025, Dong Khe Tunnel was also broken through two months ahead of schedule.
Across the project, contractors have mobilized 1,217 engineers and workers along with more than 470 construction machines constructing over the site.
Discussing the challenges encountered during the excavation of Dong Khe and That Khe tunnels, Mr. Vu Dinh Vinh, Director of the EPC Package Management Board under ICV Company (a member of the investment consortium), highlighted the complex karst limestone geology of the Northeast mountainous region.
To address these challenges, the Project Enterprise, supervision consultants, and experts closely collaborated to devise timely solutions for overcoming karst cave formations. Additionally, the rugged terrain and steep slopes posed significant obstacles in arranging construction sites and access roads.
To overcome these difficulties, the engineers and workers on the Dong Dang – Tra Linh project developed innovative solutions throughout the construction process.
"We optimized blasting procedures to reduce construction time while maintaining efficiency. Furthermore, by prioritizing machinery maintenance and ensuring adequate spare parts availability, we minimized equipment failures" Mr. Vinh stated.
Beyond technical innovations and improvements, a key factor enabling the project's engineers and workers to overcome geological challenges has been the unified and well-coordinated project management approach, combined with a strong collective determination to achieve the project's objectives.
"Within the project, all personnel function as a unified team. As a result, we have effectively tackled and resolved various challenges" affirmed Engineer Vinh.
Dong Dang – Tra Linh Expressway has a total length of 121 km and is being developed in two phases. In Phase 1, the expressway will span over 93 km, starting from the Tan Thanh Border Gate Interchange in Van Lang District, Lang Son Province, and ending at the interchange with National Highway 3 in Chi Thao Commune, Quang Hoa District, Cao Bang Province. The project features two mountain tunnels: Dong Khe and That Khe. Phase 1 of the project has a total investment of VND 14.167 trillion, with the investor consortium comprising DEOCA GROUP, ICV Vietnam Investment and Construction JSC, Deo Ca Infrastructure Investment JSC, and 568 Construction JSC. The expressway is expected to be operational by 2025 and fully completed by 2026. |
By Minh Quan
