When the incense smoke rose amidst the homeland's flock on the anniversary of the ancestors' death, there were people who were still calmly clinging to the mountains and forests, down the deep reaches, tirelessly listening to the sound of drilling machines and sawdust machines from early morning to late afternoon.
They are workers and engineers on the Huu Nghi - Chi Lang and Dong Dang - Tra Linh expressway projects.
At 6:00 a.m. on the 10th day of the 3rd lunar month (7.4.), at the Dong Dang - Tra Linh expressway construction site through Van Lang district, Lang Son province, Mr. Nguyen Van An - a construction worker - and dozens of colleagues were present from a dream, preparing for a long working day.
On the construction site, the sound of the machinery resounded in the middle of March, echoed down the ravine, flushed on the rock. The iron bars are bent, the rocks are transported, covered, and flat. The trillion -dollar highway is gradually forming from each bridge, each inch.
Mr. An shared while his hands were still tied to steel, his shirt shoulders were covered with silver, and the fat was stuck to his fingertips: "My wife and I called to ask when I would be back. I said I didn't know, because now is the peak of construction. The contractor directed to do as much as the site was clean. It's hard, tired, but seeing the road gradually appear every day makes me happy."
In the distance, the sound of drilling machines resounded, echoing in the cliff, the familiar sound was like the heart beat of the construction site.
About 60km away, at the end of the Huu Nghi - Chi Lang expressway through Mai Sao commune, Chi Lang district, where it connects to the Bac Giang - Lang Son expressway, hundreds of workers are also working hard to restlessly.
According to the representative of DCT 559 Investment Joint Stock Company - the construction unit, there are currently more than 140 motorbikes, nearly 400 engineers and workers working continuously from morning to 10 am every day.
This project is not easy. The complex terrain, cat ear stone, weak foundation, and penetration of many residential areas. But if it is not done now, the border area will remain a low-lying area for many years to come, the representative shared.
He said that there were days when the weather was only 5 degrees Celsius cold, workers still dug the nails, mixed attics, trembled hands, and had purple lips. Many people ask to stay during Tet and holidays. Not only because of the salary, but because the items have not been completed, I cannot return home with peace of mind.
On the large construction sites across mountains, through forests, and even during major holidays, there are people who have chosen to stay not to go back to their hometowns, but to pave the way for the future.
They understand that solid projects cannot be built with rest days, but with endurance and silent sacrifice.
According to the reporter's research, at the Huu Nghi - Chi Lang expressway project, aiming to achieve the goal of opening the route in 2025 and completing it in 2026, contractors are mobilizing 1,955 personnel and 683 equipment, simultaneously deploying 55 construction teams. To date, the output has reached 12.3% of the contract volume.
Lang Son province has handed over 49.9/59.87km of site, equivalent to 83.6%. The entire route has a total of 38 bridges of all kinds across provincial roads, rivers and streams - which are important linkages in connecting border infrastructure.
Mr. Tran Van Chuan - Deputy Director of the Huu Nghi - Chi Lang Expressway Project Management Board - said that the construction units are sticking to the motto: "Wherever the site is handed over, construction will be carried out there", with the determination to shorten waiting time.
When the whole country gathers during holidays, in high mountains where the wind blows, there are people who stay silently, not only to erect foundations, assemble steel or roll the foundation but also to continue writing the road to the border.
