The 4-day National Day holiday on September 2nd is an opportunity for workers to return to their families, especially those who are far from home. However, putting aside their personal concerns, nearly 300 engineers and workers of the Dai Ngai Bridge project connecting the two provinces of Tra Vinh and Soc Trang still stay at the construction site, busy with work.
With his hands deftly marking the welds, Mr. Tran Van Trieu - a worker working on the construction of Package 11 XL - Dai Ngai 2 Bridge - said that 15/15 bridge piers have been completed and he is speeding up the casting of super T girders at the girder casting yard so that he can start installing the bridge girders by November this year.
“To keep up with the construction schedule, we take turns working 3 shifts a day and have no days off. It has been raining heavily these past few days, but no one is bothered, everyone is focused on working so that the project can be completed on schedule,” said Mr. Trieu.
Originally from Ninh Binh province, in October 2023, Mr. Trieu followed the company to Soc Trang province to build Dai Ngai bridge. For nearly a year now, he has only returned to visit his family during the Lunar New Year 2024, then returned to the construction site and has not returned home yet.
"Although I feel a bit sad not being with my family on special days, in return, I get encouragement from the company's leaders and many workers staying at the construction site, so my homesickness is lessened," said Mr. Trieu.
As one of the oldest workers among nearly 100 people working at bridge No. 22 (package No. 10) of the Chau Doc - Can Tho - Soc Trang expressway component 4 project, Mr. Dao Ba Nghi (from Hai Duong province) has been working in the construction industry for nearly 30 years.
Mr. Nghi said that with so many years of working, he has spent more time at work than at home, so he is very familiar with the concept of being away from home during holidays and Tet.
“As a construction worker, I was away from home when my wife gave birth to our two children. My wife took care of most of the housework and childcare. Being away from home was not fulfilling my responsibilities as a husband and father, but because of my job, I told myself to try to overcome it,” Mr. Nghi said sadly.
Mr. Nghi said that the time he gets to go back to his hometown to be with his wife and children each year can be counted on the fingers of one hand. On this September 2nd holiday, the company gave him a day off, but due to the long distance and the peak construction period, he had to temporarily put aside the joy of reunion to stay at the construction site.
"Although we are not together, I still call my family every day and consider this a joy and spiritual encouragement when we are apart," said Mr. Nghi.
Mr. Hoang Ngoc Cuong - Project Executive Director, Dat Phuong Group Joint Stock Company - said that there are currently nearly 100 engineers and workers participating in the construction of bridge No. 22 (package No. 10) of the Chau Doc - Can Tho - Soc Trang expressway component 4 project.
“According to the company's tradition, on the occasion of September 2nd, workers will have 1 day off, the remaining days will still work as usual. To encourage the workers' spirit, the company's Board of Directors has a salary increase and bonus policy on the occasion of the holiday, so most of the workers are happy and work enthusiastically," said Mr. Cuong.
