These days, the construction atmosphere on Dai Ngai 2 bridge over Hau river, connecting Long Phu and Cu Lao Dung districts (Soc Trang province) has become more vibrant than ever. More than 30 engineers, workers and many machines and equipment are working hard at the construction site, urgently deploying the hot asphalt paving stage and completing the final stages of the bridge.
At nearly 11am on May 11, under the harsh sunlight, the hot air rising from the new asphalt road did not seem to reduce the enthusiasm of the workers here.
Trucks carrying hot asphalt concrete lined up to the bridge. Following them were about 10 workers who used shovels and scrapers to level the hot plastic layer, preparing for the rolling truck to complete the final stage, creating a smooth bridge surface.
Mr. Nguyen Van Tuan - a plastic carpet worker - said: " when plastic concrete is transported from the mixing station to the construction site, it often has a very high temperature, about 150 degrees Celsius. If the carpet is not paved quickly, the temperature will drop, no longer meet the standards and will be forced to be thrown away. Therefore, the workers always have to work at high intensity to release the plastic as quickly as possible.
Mr. Nguyen Thanh Ut - a construction worker - said: "The sun plus the heat of asphalt concrete like fire on the face, we have to cover the sweat. The sweat is wet, but because of the project progress and the nature of the work, everyone must focus on working early in the morning, working through noon until the volume of new plastic concrete rests and eating.
Mr. Cao Van Giap - Commander of the project of Thuan An Group, one of the units directly executing Dai Ngai 2 Bridge - said: “Right from the commencement, the contractor has arranged the construction force of 3 crews to ensure the project progress. The construction teams and workers on the construction site have made efforts to work day and night. With the original plan, the construction progress of Dai Ngai 2 Bridge has surpassed 5 to 6 months.
According to Project Management Board 85 - Investor of Dai Ngai Bridge project, the main construction items have reached over 95%. The construction units are completing the bridge surface's smooth asphalt layer, installing traffic signs, road and waterway warning systems, and speeding up the remaining auxiliary items to complete in June 2025.
Dai Ngai 2 Bridge started construction in mid-October 2023, and is one of the two main bridges under the Dai Ngai Bridge Construction Investment Project on National Highway 60. The project has a total investment of nearly 8,000 billion VND, located in Soc Trang and Tra Vinh provinces.
When completed, Dai Ngai 2 Bridge will, together with other large bridges such as Rach Mieu, Ham Luong, and Co Chien, form a strategic traffic axis, contributing to improving the transport capacity of the Eastern Mekong Delta.
National Highway 60 will therefore become a vital route, effectively connecting the southern coastal provinces with Ho Chi Minh City, helping to shorten travel time, reduce transportation costs, expand trade and reduce traffic pressure on National Highway 1A.
