Construction is underway at the over 7,200 billion VND Hai Van Tunnel expansion project which was approved by the Ministry of Transport in 2016 and the project is divided into 2 stages.

The installation of VPS smart towers is underway

The 1^st stage of the project focused on upgrading the existing main Hai Van Tunnel and a section of the National Highway 1A. The construction work began in April 2016 and finished in August 2017.

The 2^nd stage of the project involves expanding the over 6.2 km-long, 2-lane emergency tunnel, which lies parallel to the existing main tunnel, into a 4-lane tunnel; as well as 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. Work on this stage started in April last year and is progressing well.

Engineers checking the installation of ventilation systems in the Hai Van Tunnel 2

Mr Pham Thanh Ha, acting Director of the Hai Van Tunnel Project Management Board, said up to 95% of the 2^nd stage of the project has been already completed. In particular, the building of the Hai Van Tunnel 2 has been basically finished.  The asphalting of the approach road surface, and the installation of drainage, lighting, traffic lights and surveillance camera systems, are underway.

He revealed that the 6.2km-long, 9.7m-wide Hai Van Tunnel 2 is expected to open to traffic in September 2020, 4 months ahead of schedule.

He added the completion of the Hai Van Tunnel 2 project will help to ease the traffic overload at the existing Hai Van Tunnel 1 and shorten travel time for vehicles on the North-South road from 2020.

Mr Phan Van Thang, General Director of the Deo Ca Investment JSC - the project’s developer, said all construction and equipment installation units are working day and night in order to keep the progress of the project on track and delivery their project in time to make sure that the project will officially open to the traffic in September.

By THANH LAN - Translated by MAI DUNG