Despite being heavily affected by Covid-19 epidemic, Trung Luong - My Thuan expressway project still aims to be completed by the end of this year.
By the end of June 22, 2021, there were 60 positive cases of SAR-CoV-2 in Tien Giang province, of which 18 cases were employees working at Trung Luong - My Thuan expressway project.
Having been exposed to the positive cases, more than 200 workers of the project have to be quarantined and some packages have to be isolated on the spot at the request of the authorities. However, to ensure the normal operation of the project, a staff group of Deo Ca Group was coordinated from safe areas to fill in the positions that are being quarantined.
From the very beginning, when the Covid-19 epidemic first broke out in Vietnam, Deo Ca Group established a Steering Committee for Covid-19 prevention and control to implement working plans and respond to the increasingly complex epidemic. Therefore, when the first two positive cases are workers working at Trung Luong - My Thuan expressway project, the Steering Committee immediately activated maximum anti-epidemic solutions and mobilized personnel from other places to the project to continue the project operation.
Temporarily putting aside worries when the epidemic broke out, more than 9 pm, the machine XL01B package was still bustling
Currently, apart from the bidding packages that are forced to suspend construction due to quarantine or on-site isolation under the direction of authorities, the other packages that are not affected will continue to continue construction 3 shifts/day.
Mr. Hoang Van Bac, Construction Manager of XL10 package, said that in the first days of the outbreak in Tien Giang province, the package had to suspend construction for nearly 1 week to serve the work of tracing and zoning out the epidemic, thoroughly prevent the risk of widespread. After checking and testing with negative results, the Executive Board allowed the package to continue construction, so the overall progress in XL10 package was slower than planned. “Due to the temporary suspension of construction caused by Covid-19 epidemic, the construction progress of the asphalt concrete paving package was delayed. Currently, to ensure that the progress is catching up with the plan, we have tried to construct all 3 shifts a day,” said Mr. Bac.
Near 12 noon, under the intense sun and hot temperature of nearly 40 degrees, the engineers and workers in package XL10 still on the construction site, concreting asphalt to make up for the progress during the forced shutdown.
General Director of Trung Luong - My Thuan BOT Joint Stock Company, Mr. Nguyen Tan Dong said, “Over the past 10 days, although being under quarantine time, we always receive the support of local authorities and the attention, spiritual encouragement and close instructions of the Chairman of the Board of Management. In the near future, all employees of the project will be vaccinated, so we are very secure and believe that the epidemic will soon be pushed back. We are also ready to “engage” when the quarantine time is over and allowed by the authorities”.
The complicated and prolonged epidemic situation made it difficult to gather supplies, materials and machinery, so even in unfavorable weather, no matter rain or shine, the workers remained construction, determined to complete the project by the end of this year.
Up to now, the project has reached over 70% of the total volume. The main route has 32.5/40 km eligible for unloading, of which, 30/40 km has been completed. About the upper part of K98, the first layer has completed 24/45 km, the second layer has completed 20/45 km. Besides, 39/39 bridges on the main route are also basically completed, the railings are finishing. The B40 fence foundation has been completed and is currently under construction to bury the foundation, install the fence in the eligible sections.
By THANH XUAN – TRAN NGOC
