Floods threaten highway progress

Contractors focus on construction of Chau Doc – Can Tho – Soc Trang expressway section through Can Tho city – Photo: NV

To speed up the construction progress of component project 1 of the Chau Doc - Can Tho - Soc Trang expressway project, phase 1, the authorities of An Giang, Soc Trang provinces, Can Tho city and construction units are implementing many drastic solutions, striving to complete on schedule assigned by the Government.

"3 shifts, 4 shifts" to overcome the flood

In early November, Mr. Nguyen Dinh Du, commander of Truong Son Company, said that the unit was constructing the Chau Doc – Can Tho – Soc Trang expressway at the starting point in Chau Doc City. During the construction process, the unit had predicted that the flood situation would somewhat affect the construction process.

“From the beginning, we mobilized forces to urgently construct the bridgeheads that were not affected by the flood season, and we also took advantage of the high-altitude areas to build roads. Thanks to that, the contract package at the beginning of the expressway has now exceeded the schedule,” said Mr. Du.

At package 13 (Can Tho City), hundreds of staff and workers of Dat Phuong Group Joint Stock Company are in the stage of laying the girders of Thi Doi Bridge and Dong Phap Bridge. These are the two main bridges in the Chau Doc – Can Tho – Soc Trang expressway project through Can Tho City, connecting Co Do District and Thoi Lai District.

Mr. Truong Vu Thang, commander of package 13, said that recently, floodwaters have risen and flooded the service road, making it difficult for the contractor to transport materials. However, the contractor has made efforts to overcome difficulties to complete the construction to ensure the progress of the package and the overall progress of the project.

Thi Doi Bridge is currently laying the third span of girders, and is expected to finish 50% of the spans by the end of the year. “Dong Phap Bridge will also reach a similar volume by the end of the year. We are organizing construction in 3 shifts, 4 teams, even in the rain to ensure progress,” said Mr. Thang.

As for package 4, the representative of the Tan Nam - CC1 - Thanh An Joint Venture (implementing the construction of the An Giang section bordering Can Tho City) informed that this unit has completed more than 30% of the project volume, slightly higher than planned.

Although the West is entering the flood season, the units are still trying to construct and overcome difficulties. The unit has just built bridges and roads in high places where water has not yet flooded. However, the current difficulty is still the source of sand and rock for filling.

Construction units of component 4 of Chau Doc – Can Tho – Soc Trang expressway project are actively working to complete on schedule – Photo: KHAC TAM

Highway “froze” waiting for… sand and rocks

The Management Board of Investment Projects for Construction of Transport and Agricultural Works of An Giang Province said that the Chau Doc - Can Tho - Soc Trang Expressway project, An Giang section (component project 1) has 4 main construction packages, reaching 35.23%, 34.98%, exceeding the progress by about 0.25%.

To date, sand suppliers have supplied component project 1 with 2.7 million m3 out of the total volume of 9.3 million m3 of sand needed for the project. Similarly, the Chau Doc – Can Tho – Soc Trang expressway project through Can Tho City has 5 bidding packages. To date, the 4 main construction and installation bidding packages have only achieved a rate of more than 15%.

Currently, contractors are focusing on many construction sites to complete the project on schedule. Currently, the section through Can Tho City is flooded, causing the construction packages under construction to be submerged, affecting the foundation treatment work.

The contractors have proactively pumped out water for construction, so the progress has not been affected much. According to calculations, the expressway section through Can Tho City is currently short of more than 2.4 million cubic meters of sand.

Mr. Dang Hoang Vinh, director of the Chau Doc – Can Tho – Soc Trang expressway project management board through Can Tho city, said that the investor has asked Tien Giang province to continue supporting the exploitation and supply of sand for the project.

At the same time, it is recommended that An Giang province consider and support the return of the volume of 700,000m3 of sand transferred from Binh Phuoc Xuan mine (Cho Moi district) to Can Tho city to ensure the source of materials for the project through Can Tho.

The investor also requested Ben Tre province to consider and support material sources for the project to serve construction and installation to meet the project implementation schedule according to the resolutions of the National Assembly and the Government.

Mr. Nguyen Dinh Du, project commander of Truong Son Company (An Giang section), said that the unit has mobilized more than 200 officers, soldiers and equipment to treat the roadbed and build the bridge.

However, the lack of sand and stone resources is also a concern for contractors. “The biggest difficulty for us now is the lack of sand and stone for the project. Depending on each section and each time, we have to work day and night. If we do not solve the problem of lack of sand and stone materials soon, it will be very difficult to complete the project on schedule,” said Mr. Du.

The investor of component 1 project also said that the flood water is gradually receding. The construction units are speeding up the construction progress. So far, the site clearance work has reached about 99%. Only a few households have not agreed in the expansion area. Currently, the construction units are building bridges and culverts, the priority is still the bridge. When the water recedes, it will be considered. For now, An Giang has provided the construction units with 3 sand mines to serve this component 1 project. "Regarding the stone source, the contractors are currently using the remaining stone source of Antraco stone mine. When the water recedes and a large amount of stone is needed, the An Giang Provincial People's Committee will have a direction to handle this. The investor has reported this to the An Giang Provincial Steering Committee", said the representative of the An Giang investor.

Mr. Thach Minh Hoai, Director of the Project Management Board of 2 Soc Trang provinces, also informed that the total length of the Chau Doc - Can Tho - Soc Trang expressway through Soc Trang is about 58.37km, with a total investment of over 11,961 billion VND.

To date, the project has completed 14.2% of the contract value, 9.3% behind schedule. The project has 4 packages but all 4 packages are behind schedule. “Soc Trang province does not have a quarry, so the clay used to build the curbs must be used from outside the province. This affects the progress and construction costs of the project,” Mr. Hoai added.

Ensure sand source for the project

During a recent inspection of this project, Can Tho City Party Secretary Nguyen Van Hieu requested Co Do district to promptly complete the recovery of an area of ​​17.9 hectares to build a rest stop, ensuring the overall progress of the entire project.

Previously, An Giang Provincial Party Secretary Le Hong Quang visited and inspected the construction progress of component project 1. Mr. Quang directed relevant units, departments, branches and localities to continue to promptly advise on solutions to quickly remove difficulties and obstacles, creating the most favorable conditions for construction contractors.

Urgently review and assess environmental impacts and have a plan to reasonably and promptly arrange sand sources for the project, ensuring compliance with legal regulations.

The Chau Doc – Can Tho – Soc Trang Expressway Project Phase 1 started construction on June 17, 2023. The project has a total length of 188.2km passing through 4 provinces and cities: An Giang, Can Tho, Hau Giang and Soc Trang. The starting point connects to National Highway 91 in Chau Doc City, An Giang Province.

The end point intersects with the Nam Song Hau National Highway, connecting to the Tran De Port Road (Soc Trang). The total investment for the project is 44,691 billion VND from the central and local budgets.

In phase 1, the project will be invested in a 4-lane scale with a design speed of 100km/h. In the final phase, the project will be invested in a 6-lane scale. The project is divided into 4 component projects managed by 4 localities where the project passes through.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/lu-de-doa-tien-do-duong-cao-toc-20241116232949333.htm