Ben Thuy II Bridge: Excitement erupts as people eagerly await its inauguration.
(Baonghean)This September, the Ben Thuy II Bridge, connecting the two banks of the Lam River and spanning 996 meters, will be inaugurated and put into operation. This key project of the Ministry of Transport, incorporating the latest technologies, has been completed on schedule.
Construction began in March 2010, overcoming numerous difficulties and challenges in the basic construction market and harsh natural conditions. Hundreds of bridge builders from the Construction and Transportation Corporation No. 4, hundreds of engineers from Project Management Board 85, the Ben Thuy II Bridge Project Management Board, and contractors have actively stayed on the construction site, resulting in the completion of a modern bridge connecting the two banks of the Lam River. The Ben Thuy II Bridge is designed for permanent use, constructed of reinforced concrete and prestressed concrete, employing cantilever casting and bored pile technology – the most modern technology currently available. The bridge comprises major components: approach roads, approach bridges, and the main bridge crossing the Lam River, with a total length of 3,640m, including 996m of approach bridges and the main bridge crossing the river, and 2,644m of approach roads on both sides. The total investment is 1,259,603 million VND (the Ministry of Transport is the investor, with PMU 85 as the investor's representative).
On the construction site of Ben Thuy II Bridge.
In late autumn, the sun sweltered on the bridge. Contractors were accelerating the asphalt paving and the construction of lighting, flowerbeds, landscaping, and railings. The construction required considerable effort, intelligence, and mastery of advanced technology; especially the construction of the pile foundations in the middle of the river, each pile 58-62 meters deep and 1.5 meters in diameter. The pile drilling was the most difficult part, coinciding with the cold, rainy weather; the geological conditions were complex, with mountains on one side and the river on the other, and large blocks of sandstone beneath the riverbed. Some girder spans were 40 meters long. At peak times, nearly 2000 workers from companies 471, 482, 473, 491, and Construction Company 525 were present, focusing on installing girders and implementing the cantilever casting technology – casting concrete directly in the river, 15 meters below the water's surface. A slight misstep could lead to an accident…
For Phan Dinh Doan, the production team leader of Construction Investment Joint Stock Company 419, who has been involved with bridge construction sites across the country for nearly 27 years, including bridges like Vinh Tuy (Hanoi), Da Rang (Phu Yen), and Ro Bridge (Thanh Chuong), the Ben Thuy 2 Bridge is perhaps the most meaningful project he has been involved in from its commencement to its inauguration. This is because it is the largest bridge in his hometown of Nghe An where he had the opportunity to work as a bridge builder (he is about to retire). He worked on the bridge for two whole years, hardly ever going home (his hometown is in Cua Hoi - Nghe An, but he married and built a house in Ky Anh - Ha Tinh), through the night rain and the midday sun… for many months, the team worked three shifts, everyone became thin and tanned, but as the shape of a large bridge gradually took shape, the hardship lessened… He said: “Many times we had to work the night shift, when pouring the bridge deck, installing the girders… the teams had to divide the work, if we didn't work shifts, all the concrete would be ruined. We could only rest when all the concrete was used up. If we didn't work the third shift, we wouldn't have achieved the progress we have now.”
Thanks to his diligent work, enthusiasm, and high skill level, Mr. Doan was awarded a certificate of commendation by the Ministry of Transport. Meanwhile, young engineer Pham Xuan Lam from Construction Company 419, under the General Construction Corporation of Transport 4, expressed his delight: “Being able to work on key projects with many complex construction items, especially the construction and installation of Super T beams – items requiring high technical standards and safety – I always closely monitor the site to oversee the work, reminding the construction team to comply with technical measures, thereby ensuring the requirements and progress set by the company leadership. I also always ensure workplace safety and prevent any accidents.”
The presence of young engineers and highly skilled technicians from Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces has solved the difficulties in complex construction methods. Their practical experience gained from numerous bridge projects across the country has helped them master science and technology, operate super-heavy cranes, drilling rigs, and other machinery to successfully complete this large-scale project worth over 1.2 trillion VND. They include Bui Van Buoi - bridge and road engineer, Tran Dinh Toan - mechanical engineer, Pham Xuan Lam, Nguyen Van Toan - bridge engineers, Dam Quang Phuong - technical officer... and many more young engineers who have further honed their skills and experience on this bridge project.
Tran Quang Dan, Director of the Ben Thuy II Bridge Project under Project Management Board 85 (Ministry of Transport), said: “By August 30th, the Ben Thuy II Bridge was basically completed, and the difficulties seemed to be over. Only about 40% of the hot asphalt concrete paving remains, along with the installation of steel railings, lighting systems, and the planting of flowerbeds and ornamental plants. The progress has met the requirements. This is a key project of the Ministry of Transport aimed at relieving congestion on the Ben Thuy I Bridge and National Highway 1A. We have lived and breathed the bridge, talking and thinking about it. Many times, we rushed to the bridge in the middle of the night during heavy rain and storms, sharing the worries of the contractors… Everyone is trying their best to complete the final finishing touches in preparation for the inauguration ceremony in early September 2012.”
Having been involved with the project from its early days as Deputy Director of the Ben Thuy II Bridge Project, young engineer Nguyen Minh Tuan's skin is tanned dark by the sun and wind. Born in 1979, he has worked on many projects, and this is the largest project in his hometown that he has been involved in managing. His voice faltered due to the overwhelming amount of paperwork, phone calls, and meetings in the final stages... but the pride in a major project nearing completion kept him from forgetting the memorable milestones of the bridge: March 14, 2012, the groundbreaking ceremony; June 1, 2010, the start of the contract packages; three months later, on September 28, 2010, construction finally began due to land clearance issues; and now, exactly two years later, the Ben Thuy II Bridge has been completed.
The Ben Thuy II Bridge has been completed.
Connecting with the Vinh City bypass and National Highway 8B, the Ben Thuy II Bridge will create a parallel route to National Highway 1A through Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces, helping to alleviate the increasing traffic volume on this route. The bridge aims to complete the Vinh bypass, reduce the overload on the dilapidated Ben Thuy I Bridge, and simultaneously enhance the attractiveness and improve the investment environment for Nghe An in particular and the region in general. This project also strengthens the relationship between the two provinces, providing further impetus to the province on its path to industrialization and modernization.
Chau Lan
