Deo Ngang Tunnel opens link between Quang Tri and Ha Tinh

The Railway Project Management Board under the Ministry of Construction and Song Da 10 Joint Stock Company on July 16 held a ceremony to mark the breakthrough of the Deo Ngang Tunnel, which connects the provinces of Quang Tri and Ha Tinh.

The Deo Ngang Tunnel expansion is part of Package XL-CHQL1-02 under the project to upgrade and expand several bridges and tunnels along National Highway 1, including Xuong Giang Bridge, Gianh Bridge, Quan Hau Bridge, and Deo Ngang Tunnel. The project officially commenced on January 13, 2025, with a total investment of approximately VND219.87 billion (US$8.6 million). The Railway Project Management Board is the project investor.

Overview of the ceremony.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Nguyen Tuan Anh, General Director of Song Da Joint Stock Company, the construction contractor, stated that the expanded Deo Ngang Tunnel measures 650 meters in total length, with a main tunnel body of 555 meters and a width of 10.5 meters. It accommodates two lanes of traffic and is designed for a maximum speed of 80 kilometers per hour.

The tunnel crosses the Hoanh Son mountain range, spanning Hoanh Son Ward in Ha Tinh Province and Phu Trach Commune in Quang Tri Province. Upon completion, the Deo Ngang Tunnel will consist of two tunnel tubes and four traffic lanes when combined with the existing tunnel.

According to Mr. Nguyen Tuan Anh, to implement the tunnel expansion project, the contractor mobilized a workforce of 130 people and over 40 key vehicles and construction machines. The engineers and workers overcame various challenges to meet and even exceed expectations, completing the tunnel breakthrough one month ahead of schedule. This achievement also helped compensate for delays in site handover and the time required for trial blasting prior to large-scale construction.

Mr. Mai Xuan Tan, Director of Project Management, praised the efforts of the construction consortium for ensuring the project stayed on schedule and effectively managing construction risks. He noted that the technical breakthrough of the Deo Ngang Tunnel marks a significant milestone and reflects the investor’s confidence in the contractor.

In the coming months, the investor has requested the contractor to concentrate all available resources to complete the essential components of the tunnel expansion, with the goal of bringing it into operation by the end of 2025.

On this occasion, the Railway Project Management Board under the Ministry of Construction also presented gifts to encourage the staff and workers involved in the Deo Ngang Tunnel expansion project.

Ngoc Mai