In the early days of 2025, amidst the rugged mountains and forests of the Northeast region, the Dong Dang - Tra Linh expressway construction site is bustling every day.
The sound of machinery roared, dust flew everywhere, and workers in protective gear worked tirelessly. From heavy work like bending steel, operating giant rock drills, to careful steps on rough dirt and rocky roads, all exuded a spirit of determination.
The strong arms and sweat soaked into the blue shirts of the construction workers seemed to blend in with the urgent rhythm of the construction. Modern machinery operated at full capacity, supporting people to conquer the rugged terrain, speeding up the construction progress. Amidst the majestic mountain scenery, each explosion of rock breaking, each bent steel bar was a testament to the will and aspiration of the government and people of the border area.
Despite the arduous work and harsh working environment, their eyes always shine with pride. They all share the same goal, fanning the flames of enthusiasm to soon complete the vital highway, connecting the border region with all parts of the country.
The leader of Cao Bang Provincial People's Committee said that up to now, Cao Bang and Lang Son provinces have handed over 93.14/93.35km to the contractor to implement the Dong Dang - Tra Linh expressway project.
In Cao Bang province alone, 41.26/41.35km have been completed, reaching 99.78% of the route length. In Lang Son, this figure reached 51.88/52km, reaching 99.77% of the route length. The site handover is being carried out vigorously with the consensus and support of the people.
At the construction site, slogans like "3 shifts, 4 shifts", "overcoming the sun, overcoming the rain, not losing to storms" are becoming a compass for determination.
More than 1,000 personnel and more than 350 pieces of machinery and equipment were mobilized to the maximum, deploying 27 construction teams with many important items such as bridges, tunnels, and culverts. Notably, on December 7, 2024, two tunnels on the route were opened, 3 months ahead of schedule.
As of December 31, 2024, the project has disbursed more than VND 1,191 billion, reaching 61.6% of the 2024 capital plan, of which more than VND 337 billion of State capital has been disbursed to support the construction of works and infrastructure systems.
Unable to hide her joy at witnessing the positive changes, Ms. Nguyen Thi Lan, a trader in Cao Bang City, shared: “Since we heard that the expressway is about to be completed, we have been looking forward to it because it will be more convenient in transporting goods, and more tourists will come. This is truly a great opportunity for border areas like ours.”
Mr. Hoang Van Tuan, a farmer in Tra Linh district, also expressed his hope: "The highway will help farmers' agricultural products to be consumed faster and at more stable prices. Hopefully, people's lives will become more and more prosperous."
In particular, with the remaining 1% of the land area of Cao Bang province, the locality said it will strive to clear the land to hand over clean land for the project and soon put the project into operation, contributing to the implementation of the local economic and social development goals.
During a field trip to inspect the progress of the two Huu Nghi - Chi Lang and Dong Dang - Tra Linh Expressway Projects, and working with leaders of Lang Son and Cao Bang provinces in mid-November 2024, Politburo member and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh requested the entire political system to get involved in order to complete the first phase of the route in 2025.
