On February 9, 2025, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh led a government delegation to inspect Quang Ngai - Hoai Nhon project, a key segment of the North-South Expressway in the Eastern region. The delegation included Minister of Transport Tran Hong Minh, Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung, as well as leaders from central and local agencies.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh encouraged the workers to work on the project.
After inspecting the site, the delegation visited Tunnel No. 1 and Tunnel No. 2 to receive progress updates. Mr. Ngo Truong Nam, General Manager of DEOCA Group, reported that construction is proceeding at 50 active work fronts, with 3,850 personnel and 1,550 pieces of equipment on site. As of now, the total production value has reached approximately 286 million USD, accounting for 55% of the project’s total value.
Regarding road construction, embankment work on the main road has reached 95%, with drainage systems and pedestrian tunnels already completed. So far, 12 km of crushed stone base have been laid, and over 6 km of cement-stabilized crushed stone have been completed. Six asphalt plants have been set up, and asphalt paving is underway on contracts XL1 and XL2.
In terms of bridge construction, the piers for all 77 bridges have been completed, with 50 bridges currently undergoing beam installation and deck construction. Ve River Bridge, the longest bridge on the route at 610 m, has had its deck installed.
As for tunnel construction, both tubes for Tunnel No. 1 and Tunnel No. 2 have been completed. Work is currently underway on electrical, mechanical, and fire protection systems. Tunnel No. 3, the largest tunnel on the North-South Expressway, is nearly finished, with almost 5,000 m of the total 6,400 m excavated and reinforced. Concrete lining for the tunnel is being installed sequentially, with around 1,650 m already completed.
Mr. Ngo Truong Nam, General Manager of DEOCA Group, reported on the project's progress.
To meet the project’s 2025 deadline, DEOCA Group has implemented a 3-shift, 4-team working schedule, with engineers and workers operating around the clock, even during holidays and New Year’s. The focus is on the most critical sections of Tunnel No. 3 and large bridges.
However, the project has faced several challenges, including delays in land clearance, which will not be fully completed until June 2024, and infrastructure relocations, which will take until the end of October 2024 to finish. This has had a significant impact on the overall timeline. Furthermore, the project has experienced two consecutive rainy seasons, each lasting about 6 months, which has hindered roadbed construction. Additionally, the geological conditions of Tunnel No. 3 deviated from the original design, causing delays in excavation and material procurement. To
To overcome these challenges, DEOCA Group has mobilized additional labor and equipment, expanding the number of active work fronts as soon as sufficient land is cleared. The company is prioritizing components that are less affected by weather, such as bridges, tunnels, and the production of prefabricated components. Additionally, DEOCA Group has taken decisive action to reduce the scope of work for contractors who are unable to meet deadlines. The company has also applied the “NATM – DEOCA System” method for tunnel excavation, which has shortened construction time by nearly 7 months.
After reviewing the progress and inspecting the site, Prime Minister commended the engineers and workers for their dedication, particularly during the holidays. “I commend those who have worked through the holidays and thank DEOCA Group for their innovative solutions, especially in tunnel excavation”, the Prime Minister said. He also urged DEOCA Group to continue supporting and guiding local contractors to expand their capacities and take on additional projects. The Prime Minister emphasized the need for Quang Ngai and Binh Dinh provinces to work closely with contractors to ensure the road is open by the end of this year.
Prime Minister presented gifts and commended the employees for their dedication and work spirit.
To ensure Quang Ngai - Hoai Nhon section is completed on time, by the end of 2025, Mr. Ho Minh Hoang, Chairman of DEOCA Group’s Board of Directors, requested that the Prime Minister direct project owners and contractors to work closely together to resolve any legal, policy and procedural issues, and to clarify temporary costs for some sections. The Ministry of Transport should address any outstanding issues before the project is handed over for operation.
In practice, the North-South Expressway’s operation has shown that utilizing only one tunnel tube creates a bottleneck in Cam Lam - Vinh Hao section. Although both tunnel tubes are built, only the right tube is in use. During the Lunar New Year holiday, traffic volume increased by three to four times the normal rate, resulting in congestion as vehicles from two lanes were funneled into one, causing delays and hindering the flow of traffic.
Chairman of the Board of Directors, Ho Minh Hoang, suggested that the Prime Minister direct the resolution of obstacles.
DEOCA Group has therefore recommended that the Ministry of Transport complete both tunnel tubes for Tunnel No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3 (including the ITS system) to ensure consistency with other components, such as bridges and roads, and to enhance traffic safety and efficiency upon operation. Opening both tunnel tubes from the outset would not only optimize investment costs but also improve traffic flow and safety, reducing the risk of congestion on this critical expressway section.
Regarding pricing standards, DEOCA Group has requested that the Ministry of Construction and the Ministry of Transport apply Circular 09/2024/TT-BXD on adjusting construction pricing for the North-South Expressway project, and continue to review and amend standards that are deemed unsuitable, such as those for crushed stone base and excavation coefficients.
Finally, DEOCA Group has proposed a reward system for contractors who perform well under Decree 15/2023/ND-CP, and penalties for those who fail to meet standards on previous projects.
The Prime Minister agreed with the contractor's proposal to complete both tunnel tubes and use them from the start, stressing that this should be done immediately. He tasked relevant ministries with proposing rewards for well-performing contractors and compiling a list of contractors who abandon projects or fail to meet standards, barring them from future work. The Prime Minister also emphasized that the Ministry of Construction and the Ministry of Transport must work closely with local authorities to resolve price-related concerns as soon as possible, saying “Contractors should not be left to work alone on the construction site”.
Quang Ngai - Hoai Nhon Expressway project, with a total investment of over 797 million USD, spans 88 kilometers through Quang Ngai province (60.3 km) and Binh Dinh province (27.7 km). This is the largest of the 12 sub-projects and is scheduled to open by the end of 2025, as directed by the Prime Minister, connecting the entire North-South Expressway from Cao Bang province to Ca Mau province.
News: TT - Photo: To Hung
