The longest mountain tunnel on the North-South expressway is about to open

The Quang Ngai - Hoai Nhon Expressway Project (part of the North-South Eastern Expressway Construction Project for the 2021-2025 period) is the largest project among the 12 component projects of the North-South Expressway Project.

The project is 88 km long, with a total investment of over VND20,400 billion. Of which, the section through Quang Ngai province is 60.3 km long, and the section through Binh Dinh province is 27.7 km long. In phase 1, the Quang Ngai - Hoai Nhon expressway has a scale of 4 lanes, with a speed of 80 km/h.

The project is invested by Project Management Board 2, Ministry of Transport . According to the plan, the entire project must be completed in the third quarter of 2026.

Quang Ngai - Hoai Nhon Expressway is the section with the most tunnels on the North-South Expressway. There are 3 tunnels on the route, including tunnel 1, tunnel 2 of package XL2 and tunnel 3 of package XL3. Of which, tunnel 1 is 610 m long, tunnel 2 is 700 m long and tunnel 3 is a special tunnel with a length of 3,200 m.

Once completed and put into use, Tunnel No. 3 will be the longest road tunnel of the North-South Expressway project and the third longest road tunnel in the country, after Hai Van and Deo Ca.

After more than 2 years of opening tunnel 3, the tunnel drilling work has now reached the final meters.

Accordingly, inside the tunnel tube right of the northern tunnel entrance, the tunnel boring work is entering the final stage. Up to now, this tunnel tube has been dug 3,180/3,200m. The contractor is ready for the blasting work to close the tunnel and clear the tunnel before April 30 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the country's reunification.

According to the reporter's records, at the construction site of tunnel No. 3, the contractor has arranged 4 construction sites at both ends of the tunnel. Large drilling machines have been mobilized by the contractor to the construction site.

Each drill bit penetrates deep into the mountain, then workers clean and install explosives to detonate the mine.

Inside the tunnel, the air is always stuffy and humid. However, hundreds of engineers and workers still work tirelessly in 3 shifts and 4 shifts.

Miners prepare detonating cords and electric detonators to detonate when the charge installation is completed.

Mr. Nguyen Khac Tu (from Hai Duong province - drilling machine operator) said that he has been working at the construction site for more than 2 years. Although working inside the deep tunnel is hot and stuffy, everyone is determined to bring the project to the finish line as scheduled.

A worker takes a break after many hours of work.

General Director of Deo Ca Group Ngo Truong Nam said, there are still 20m left, we are concentrating highly, ready to clear the tunnel right of the northern tunnel entrance before April 30 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the country's reunification.

According to Mr. Nam, tunnel No. 3 has dug 6,050m out of a total of 6,400m. The tunnel lining concrete construction is also being carried out in a rolling manner, reaching about 2,500/6,400m.

“According to the contract signed with the investor, tunnel No. 3 will be completed after 42 months of construction. The unit is making efforts to open this special road tunnel earlier than scheduled, contributing to completing the entire project in 2025 as directed by the Prime Minister,” Mr. Nam added.

Nguyen Ngoc

Source: https://tienphong.vn/sap-thong-ham-xuyen-nui-dai-nhat-cao-toc-bac-nam-post1737299.tpo