The project to open a new tunnel under the Hai Van Pass, which began in July 2016, is progressing well.  It involves expanding the 6.2 km-long emergency tunnel, which lies parallel to the existing main tunnel, into a 4-lane tunnel, and building a new 2.1 km-long stretch of road to Thua Thien-Hue Province’s Lang Co Town, and a 4.3 km-long roadway leading to Da Nang. 

The emergency tunnel (left) next to the existing main tunnel (right) (Photo: Tuoitrenews)

The over 7,295 billion VND project is being financed on the build-operate-transfer (BOT) basis, and it is expected to be put into operation in 2019. 

Special attention is also being paid to upgrading the existing tunnel and replacing damaged equipment to ensure traffic safety during the construction of the new tunnel.

Once it is complete, the new tunnel will help to better cope with the burgeoning traffic flow through the existing tunnel, and ensure smoother movement of vehicles on that section of National Highway 1A.  In turn, this will help accelerate the economic progress of the whole central region.