Working through Tet, determined to complete the 1,400 billion multi-level intersection in Ha Nam 4 months ahead of schedule

Hundreds of engineers and workers are working day and night, working through holidays and Tet, striving to complete the Phu Thu intersection (Ha Nam) by August 2025 to celebrate the 21st Provincial Party Congress.

Proactively overcome difficulties

In the last days of the year of Giap Thin 2024, the cold winds of the severe cold spell could not stop the progress of engineers and workers participating in the construction of a multi-level expressway interchange in Phu Ly city, Ha Nam province. At the construction site less than 1km long located in the middle of the Cau Gie - Ninh Binh expressway, more than 300 engineers and workers of the contractor Vinaconex and Trung Chinh Trading and Construction Company Limited are still busy with their work.

With a construction site less than 1km long located between the highway, the two contractors are working hard to overcome difficulties to bring the project to the finish line soon.

Engineer Ho Minh Hanh, Site Manager of contractor Vinaconex, said that the most difficult parts of the project have been completed. Now, the team is only focusing on digging and pouring concrete for the main tunnel segments.

In this project, Vinaconex was assigned to build a 1.2km long two-way road system and 14 expressway tunnel segments with a length of 280m. Up to now, Vinaconex has completed and opened the access road in July 2024, and completed the foundation of 14/14 tunnel segments. 12/14 tunnel base concrete has been poured; 8/14 tunnel retaining walls have been poured. The total output value reached 350 billion VND (equivalent to 60% of the construction value).

Phu Thu Interchange - the 5th multi-level expressway interchange of Ha Nam seen from above.

Engineer Hanh said: “At the construction site, we have 200 engineers and workers divided into many construction teams working simultaneously along the construction site. The equipment system includes 10 cranes, 20 transport vehicles, 20 tank trucks and concrete pumps. The workers are divided into teams, working in 3 shifts continuously, including holidays, Saturdays and Sundays.

In terms of capacity and technical level, we are completely confident that we can do this project well because Vinaconex has built at least 3 road tunnels in Hanoi, including: Thanh Xuan, Trung Hoa, Le Van Luong. In this project, the most difficult thing we have to overcome is the construction site and material prices.

Regarding the construction site, because it is located in the middle of the North-South Expressway, it is very narrow. The construction process must arrange the construction sites flexibly and scientifically to avoid the situation of "stepping on each other's toes". Vehicles transporting materials for the project must take a 17km detour through the intersections of Liem Tuyen and Vuc Vong to ensure traffic safety.

Narrow construction sites and high material prices are major obstacles for contractors participating in project construction.

“Regarding material prices, this is still a headache for us. Since the project was implemented, material prices have continuously increased without decreasing. The current price has exceeded the estimate by 30-50%, causing the contractor to suffer double losses. Therefore, the unit hopes that the authorities will consider adjusting the unit price so that the contractor can ensure resources to complete the project,” engineer Hanh proposed.

Similarly, with the Trung Chinh contractor, this contractor has currently mobilized up to 110 engineers and workers, working in rotation 24/7. However, because the items are all located in the middle of the tunnel, the working time must be divided to concentrate more at night to ensure the highest efficiency.

Engineer Dang Xuan Dai, site manager of contractor Trung Chinh, said that the construction site is narrow, the entire project has only 2 small service roads along the 2 tunnels. When standing at the crane, pouring concrete, the soil transport vehicle must stop and vice versa.

"However, we have developed a detailed construction plan and flexible construction organization measures to completely overcome this problem.

The tunnel has completed 12/15 steel sheet piles of 15 tunnel segments, poured 9/15 bottom bases, and built retaining walls for 8/15 segments. It is expected that before Lunar New Year, the first tunnel segment cap slab will be poured, then the remaining segments will be poured in a rolling manner. Strive to finish the tunnel concrete part by May to move to the next phase," said engineer Dai.

Both contractors have planned to work through Tet to strive to complete the project in August 2025, to celebrate the 21st Ha Nam Provincial Party Congress.

Working through Tet to shorten progress by 4 months

Currently, both contractors Trung Chinh and Vinaconex are determined to speed up the project's construction progress. The proof is that both units have completed the Tet construction plan. If Trung Chinh focuses on completing all auxiliary items before Tet to maintain the on-duty team and do important tasks during Tet, Vinaconex will organize Tet construction as usual.

Engineer Hanh said: "We have ordered pigs to be served to the soldiers at the construction site this weekend; on the 26th of the lunar calendar, we will wrap banh chung and decorate the camp to prepare for Tet at the construction site. For engineers and workers who work through Tet, the company will pay 3 times the normal salary, in addition to enjoying benefits such as Tet bonuses and New Year's lucky money.

The items that have not met the company's schedule will be completed during Tet. We strive to complete the project by August 2025, 4 months shorter than the contract."

Assessing the construction progress of the contractors, Mr. Nguyen Toan Thang, Deputy Director of the Ha Nam Provincial Construction Investment Project Management Board, said: Since 2024, both contractors have proactively accelerated and accelerated the progress. By November 2024, the tunnel foundation had been completed and concrete was being poured on 29 expressway tunnel segments, of which 7 segments were basically completed. The total output to date has reached 689.4 billion VND, meeting the set schedule.

"Phu Thu Intersection is a project of special importance to Ha Nam province. When completed, the project will increase the connectivity and trade between Ha Nam and the whole country. At the same time, it will create momentum for development and attract investment... Therefore, the Board has directed contractors to focus on shortening the construction schedule, ensuring quality, and striving to complete the project in August 2025, a project to celebrate National Day September 2 and the 21st Ha Nam Provincial Party Congress.

Regarding the construction of Tet, in addition to the contractor's plan, the Board and consultants have also arranged human resources to be on duty and directly supervise at the construction site, ready to accept the volume to help the contractor move to the next phase. The work process must ensure quality, ensure traffic safety, labor safety, and environmental sanitation so that people can travel conveniently and safely in the days before, during and after Tet," Mr. Thang emphasized.

Phu Thu Interchange (Phu Ly City, Ha Nam) is one of five North-South expressway intersections through this province, which is being invested in and constructed. Phu Thu Interchange is designed and constructed as a 3-level interchange, connecting with Ring Road 4, Ring Road 5 and local roads. The total investment of the project is nearly 1,400 billion VND, from the local budget. The project started in May 2023, and the project completion time according to the contract is December 2025. The project is constructed by Vietnam Construction and Import-Export Joint Stock Corporation (Vinaconex) and Trung Chinh Construction and Trading Company Limited.

Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/lam-xuyen-tet-quyet-dua-nut-giao-da-tang-1400-ty-o-ha-nam-ve-dich-truoc-4-thang-192250113154318788.htm