VINH TUY 2 BRIDGE’S FINAL SECTION JOINED

On the morning of May 30, the final section of Vinh Tuy 2 Bridge in Hanoi was successfully joined, signifying the completion of all primary structures of this over-VND 2.5 billion bridge spanning the Red River. That’s a crucial milestone toward the sprint phase in preparation for the upcoming traffic in September 2023.

The ceremony had the presence of the following delegates: Ms. Nguyen Thi Tuyen - Member of the Party Central Committee, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee; Mr. Tran Sy Thanh - Member of the Party Central Committee, Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee; along with representatives of the project investor; consultant unit; VINACONEX Corporation as the contractor in charge of the project. 
The Vinh Tuy Bridge project in Phase 2 commenced on January 9, 2021, with a similar design in structure and shape to the Vinh Tuy Bridge in Phase 1. The bridge has a total length of about 3,473 meters, with a cross-section width of 19.25 meters. It comprises the prestressed reinforced concrete structure and consists of eight major spans. These spans are constructed by the balanced cantilever method and have a length of 955m. The longest among these is the 135 meters span.
Evaluating the construction process of the bridge in the past time, Mr. Nguyen Chi Cuong - Director of the Management Board of Investment and Construction of Traffic Works in Hanoi (the investor) said that the investor and the contractor had to bear adverse impacts when the COVID-19 pandemic broke out; They had trouble getting materials for the project, and the cost of building materials fluctuated abnormally (typically, construction steel price increased by about 40-50% during the first half of 2021). As a result, it was hard for businesses to retain adequate working capital for the project, partly affecting its progress.

Nonetheless, with the extensive support and guidance of the Municipal Party Committee, People's Council, and People's Committee, the PMU has worked closely with the consultant units and contractors to identify effective solutions to overcome obstacles so that after over 2 years of construction, so far, the bridge’s eight spans built in balanced cantilever and scaffold system methods has been completed, its section at the middle has also been joined as well.
The joint venture of Vietnam Construction and Import-Export Corporation (VINACONEX) and Trung Chinh Trading and Construction Company Limited is the contractor in charge of the construction of package XL1 worth about VND1,154 billion (including provisions), construction time of 24 months. This is the project's most substantial bidding package. In addition to package XL1, VINACONEX also undertakes construction in package XL05: Construction of approach roads on Long Bien side with the winning bid price of VND 100,688 billion, construction time of 17 months.
Upon completion of the final section, VINACONEX contractor would proceed with the guard rails, trees, lighting system, asphalt concrete, and road marking, in preparation for opening for traffic by October 2, 2023. Simultaneously, implementing traffic reorganization, setting up road dividers, and line marking on Vinh Tuy Bridge phase 1 to sync the entire project by October 10, 2023.

According to Mr. Dao Ngoc Thanh, Chairman of the Board of Directors of VINACONEX Corporation - on behalf of the project’s contractors, the project's construction site is situated underwater and demands high technical requirements. Moreover, adhering to the project schedule and plan, while also ensuring the unimpeded and secure utilization of the existing Vinh Tuy bridge and the Red River waterway passing through the construction represent significant pressure on the contractors.
Overcoming these challenges, VINACONEX - Trung Chinh joint venture & contractors have devised weekly, monthly, and quarterly construction plans to maximize the use of favorable weather, applying advanced construction technologies and solutions, deploying modern equipment, and many highly qualified engineers and workers to working in 24/7 shift work to accelerate the progress. Thanks to the combined efforts, the project was finished on time with high-quality construction, aesthetically pleasing outcomes, and labor safety. Besides, the project has been carried out by 100% Vietnamese personnel and applied new construction techniques and technologies to reduce construction time by 1.5 years compared to the Vinh Tuy bridge phase 1, which all showed the outstanding competence and expertise of the project team.

Speaking at the ceremony, Vice Chairman of Hanoi People's Committee Duong Duc Tuan emphasized that the merging of the main bridge’s main section spanning the Red River marks a significant step for the Vinh Tuy 2 Bridge project, joining two cantilevered girders of the bridge on the sides of Hai Ba Trung and Long Bien districts, finishing the main girder across the Red River, completing the entire bridge from right to left bank.
The second phase of Vinh Tuy Bridge is being invested and developed following the planning, having a total investment of over VND 2.5 trillion sourced from the city’s budget. The project aims to complete the entire Ring Road No. 2, facilitate the transportation flow between the Red River's two banks, as well as fulfill the rising transportation demands between Hanoi's central district and its northern and northeastern regions. The bridge has eight lanes, including four car lanes, two bus lanes, and two lanes for rudimentary vehicles. This is the first bridge in Hanoi with lanes dedicated to buses.

Some photos taken at the event: