The Da Nang Department of Construction has recently proposed the construction of a tunnel across the Han River and a traffic connection route in the East-West direction through Da Nang International Airport.

A tunnel across Da Nang’s Han River is expected to constructed. Photo courtesy of the municipal Department of Construction

Specifically, the Han River tunnel has a total length of about 1.67km, including a 600m closed underwater tunnel, a 380m closed tunnel on shore and a 415m open tunnel.

The tunnel is envisaged to start at the intersection of Dong Da and Tran Phu streets in Hai Chau District, cross through the Han River, and end at the intersection of Van Don and Tran Hung Dao streets in Son Tra District.

The project is estimated to cost VND 6,880 billion. Of which, VND 3,900 billion will be poured into the construction work, VND 2,000 billion will be spent on site clearance and resettlement, and some other costs.

As for the East-West traffic connection project through Da Nang International Airport, the Department of Construction has proposed a tunnel line with a total length of more than 2.9km-long, including two open tunnel sections with a total length of 570m, three box tunnel sections with a total length of 1,450m and a tunnel through the existing runway of 900m.

Therefore, the Ministry of Finance recommends two options: The first option is to build a Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) line running with the road, and the second option is to build an MRT line not running with the road.

According to the analysis, the first option has a high level of technical difficulty, and a cost of about VND 10,000 billion but there is a high level of suitability for Da Nang International Airport infrastructure. Meanwhile, the second option has lower level of technical difficulty, a cost of about VND 7,500 billion, and high safety/operation level. With the option, it is easy to expand MRT but there is average level of suitability for Da Nang International Airport infrastructure.

The municipal Department of Construction recommends that for the tunnel route through the airport, it is not advisable to combine the arrangement of MRT and road routes. The reason is that the technical standards of MRT and road are different. The characteristics of the plane and longitudinal profile of MRT and road routes at the tunnel location through the airport are too different, making it difficult to handle the structure at the changeover location between MRT and road.

According to the Department of Construction, the investment progress of the MRT route has not yet been determined, so with rapid changes in technology, the determination of route direction and technology will be selected at the time of investment. However, with the actual conditions of Da Nang International Airport being planned for expansion, the MRT route option also needs to be studied soon.

Reporting by THANH LAN - Translating by M.DUNG, T.TUNG