After a period of closing the last span, the Phuoc Khanh bridge construction site connecting Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai (belonging to the Ben Luc - Long Thanh expressway project) has entered the sprint stage to the finish line. Nearly 200 officials, engineers and workers are clinging to the middle of the Long Tau River, taking turns to complete the remaining workload, determined to bring this vital project to the finish line on schedule.
Mr. Hoang Dang Hau - Deputy Commander of Bac Trung Nam Company in charge of Phuoc Khanh bridge construction - said: "The overall progress of Phuoc Khanh bridge has now reached about 98% of the workload. All personnel at the construction site are focusing their efforts to connect the final stages, striving to open the entire route to traffic in September.
The remaining workload, although only accounting for a small proportion, requires meticulousness and the highest technical accuracy. Contractors are focusing on lighting systems, installing expansion joints, railings, signs and asphalt concrete pavement.
According to Mr. Hau, the most complex and time-consuming stage from now until the inauguration is adjusting the force of the cable-stayed system and proceeding to dismantle heavy-duty cast car systems.
Among the projects belonging to the Ben Luc - Long Thanh expressway, Phuoc Khanh bridge has the highest scale and difficulty. The bridge is designed with two giant H-shaped towers up to 155m high. The suspension cable system is tightly knitted to bear the entire weight of the bridge, requiring the construction process to be accurate to the millimeter.
In particular, Phuoc Khanh bridge is holding the record as the bridge with the highest distance from the water surface to the underpass in Vietnam today (55m). This design helps large cargo ships easily pass through. The two towers are also built extremely solid, capable of withstanding earthquakes and directly resisting the impact of ships weighing up to 20,000 tons.
The biggest difficulty that may affect the project progress at this time is the weather. Currently, during the peak rainy season, completion items, especially the asphalt concrete pavement of the bridge deck, must be carried out in dry conditions. Construction at an altitude of 55m in the river mouth area when it is raining heavily and windy, poses very high risks to labor safety.
The construction site maintains continuous work 24/24 hours with 3 shifts, 4 crews. Each shift is arranged for workers to work about 4 hours extra to speed up progress.
The completion of Phuoc Khanh bridge means a continuous traffic connection, helping people and goods vehicles move directly from the Mekong Delta to Cai Mep - Thi Vai port cluster and Long Thanh airport without having to go through the frequently congested core area of Ho Chi Minh City.
With a total investment of more than 29,586 billion VND for the entire project, the Ben Luc - Long Thanh expressway when put into operation will create a major boost for economic development in the South.
