Thousands of workers, engineers, and machinery tirelessly operate day and night at Dong Dang (Lang Son province) – Tra Linh (Cao Bang province) expressway construction site, determined to complete the project on schedule.

At 5:30 PM, specialized machinery is gathered at the tunnel entrances, ready for the night shift.

With the spirit of “eating on the go, sleeping on the run” and the “three shifts, four crews” approach, workers and engineers on the project rotate shifts, committing to work through holidays and Tet. They aim to take full advantage of the dry season from now until May 2025 to accelerate progress, especially on outdoor components.

According to Dong Dang – Tra Linh Expressway Joint Stock Company (the project enterprise), the project has so far secured 54.733km of land clearance out of a total 93.35km. Contractors are currently mobilizing 1,020 personnel and 357 pieces of equipment, executing 36 concurrent construction tasks, including mountain tunnels, overpasses, culverts, and more. The construction output to date is valued at approximately 485 billion VND out of a total contract value of 10,056.85 billion VND, equivalent to 4.85% of the contract’s total value, meeting the planned schedule.

Two workers reinforce the roof of Tunnel 2, rushing to complete their tasks before the day shift ends.

Around 6 PM, workers and shift leaders discuss tasks before wrapping up the day shift and beginning the night shift.

The early winter chill in the highlands does not dampen the spirit of the workers building the Dong Dang - Tra Linh road.

At the tunnel construction sites, the excavation process follows a series of steps: drilling, blasting, removing soil and rock, erecting support frames, and spraying concrete. Completing one full cycle of these steps requires approximately 13 continuous hours.

Mr. Nguyen Van Luong, Chief Commander of the West Side of Tunnel 2, shared that the progress of tunnel excavation is influenced by geological conditions. Given the complex geology of the Northeast mountainous region, the team of engineers and tunnel workers achieves an average excavation speed of 2 to 6 meters per day.

The night mist descends, blanketing the mountains of Cao Bằng. However, stepping into the tunnel, the biting cold gives way to the intense heat from the machinery and the fiery working spirit of the tunnel workers.

The mountainous region of Northeast Vietnam has complex geological conditions, so the construction work is carried out with great caution by the contractor to ensure quality and safety. Currently, Tunnel Tube 2 has been excavated to a length of over 380 meters.

After drilling, the blasters set up the detonator wires. On average, each tunnel tube undergoes 2–3 blasts per day, depending on the excavation progress.

The connections of the detonator wires are carefully inspected. Depending on the geological conditions, the appropriate amount of explosives is calculated to perform either long or short blasts. This is followed by installing support frames and inserting reinforcement anchors to ensure safety.

Before detonating, the blasters carefully inspect each drill hole with a flashlight to ensure technical precision and safety. This is a critical step to ensure the explosion proceeds as planned and achieves maximum efficiency.

After blasting, workers install reinforcement anchors to form grids and set up support frames before spraying concrete to reinforce the tunnel lining.

At the Đồng Đăng - Trà Lĩnh project, Đèo Cả Group employs the NATM tunneling method, known as the "Đèo Cả system," to shorten construction time and enhance tunnel excavation efficiency.

A representative of the General Contractor's Operations Board stated that work shifts are scientifically organized in rotation, ensuring workers' health while optimizing construction efficiency. The Operations Board also provides full protective gear, especially for tunnel construction, which includes support equipment such as high-capacity ventilation systems to assist engineers and workers throughout the tunneling process.

During work shifts, workers are provided with supplemental meals to replenish their energy.

With over 20 years of experience in the construction industry, Mr. Pham Hung Duong, Head of the Occupational Safety and Health Department, emphasized that occupational safety is a top priority on the project site. Regular safety training sessions are conducted, and safety monitoring at the construction site is implemented rigorously throughout the project. Skilled engineers and workers maintain a strong sense of self-protection and care for their colleagues, fostering a cohesive team with high responsibility, all working towards a common goal.

Gather workers to brief them on occupational safety regulations before starting the work shift.

The Dong Dang - Tra Linh Expressway Project (Phase 1) spans over 93 kilometers, with a total investment of more than 14,300 billion VND. The starting point is at the Tan Thanh Border Gate Interchange (Van Lang District, Lang Son Province), and the endpoint is at the National Highway 3 Interchange (Chi Thao Commune, Quang Hoa District, Cao Bang Province). The main route includes a total of 4 tunnels, with an additional 2 tunnels on branch routes.

Once completed, the Dong Dang - Tra Linh Expressway will enhance domestic and international trade connectivity, improve the competitiveness of local and regional economies, and serve as a driving force for socio-economic development and national security.

Deo Ca Group is the leading investor in the consortium implementing Phase 1 of the project. To motivate contractors to accelerate project progress, the project enterprise launched a "525-day countdown" campaign in early October to open the expressway to traffic. This initiative has been met with enthusiastic support from the contractors.

HUY VŨ