CONSTRUCTING THE VINH TUY 2 BRIDGE: A CHALLENGING JOURNEY

On the morning of August 30, the Vinh Tuy 2 bridge across the Red River in Hanoi was officially opened to traffic. In photo: Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and other leaders of the Central and Municipal Committee were present for the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Out of the 5 bidding packages, the construction package for the main span of the bridge over the river stands out as the most complex and important one. To build the main bridge, the contractors had to use multiple barges that served as a floating road, deploying excavators and cranes to excavate and drill in the river bed, as well as installing sheet piles around the perimeter of the foundation work. The main span crossing the river has a total of 4 concrete piers located on the riverbed and 2 other piers on each side, bordering the banks.

At the construction site, there were 11 contractors working on 11 different construction sections. The entire site had over 500 engineers, technical staff, and construction workers, working in shifts and crews around the clock.

By July 2021, the Covid-19 pandemic had become complicated and prolonged. The cost of materials, especially iron and steel, increased by 40% from the initial estimate, causing difficulties in resource mobilization and progress for the project.

Reflecting on that time, Mr. Pham Van Tan, the representative of the supervision consultant unit for package No. 1, stated that Package No. 1, commencing in May 2021, was the most complicated item of the Vinh Tuy 2 Bridge project. It involved constructing 4 bridge piers spanning the Red River bed.

The project involves building 4 piers over the Red River. For each pier, the contractor needed to move 24 steel casing pipes with a diameter of D1,200 using barges. The Red River has a depth of 12m and a fast flow. To work in these conditions, the contractor used large casings to drive into the river bed and then filled with concrete to create sturdy bored piles. By December 2021, after all the bored pile items were done, the contractor started working on the pile footings and part of the pier at the same time to ensure the project would be completed on schedule, before the rainy season.

The Red River bed’s geological conditions are intricate, with lots of changes in the river's morphology. In light of this, the construction units, who are renowned nationwide for their expertise in building bridges and roads, are well-prepared for the challenges and uncertainties that may arise during the construction process. They've arranged a highly skilled team in place to handle the construction of the section over the river.

The Vinh Tuy 2 bridge has been built right next to Vinh Tuy 1 bridge, necessitating limitations on the materials and equipment hoisting in the river to ensure safety and minimize any impact on the initial bridge. 

Additionally, the construction beneath and in the Red River which has a lot of waterway traffic was also a safety issue. However, the construction units have taken steps to regulate and ensure the safety of waterway traffic, mitigating the possibility of collisions with boats.
Mr. Pham Van Luong, the representative from Vinaconex contractor (package No. 1), mentioned that the construction site on the river was executed during the hottest time of the year, resulting in an extremely hot working environment. During the winter, the workers had to face tough conditions due to the strong and cold wind on the river.

On the morning of May 30, the final section of Vinh Tuy 2 Bridge crossing Red River was successfully joined, marking a significant milestone for the project.

Vinh Tuy Bridge - Phase 2 connects two cantilever bridge girders on the banks of Hai Ba Trung district and Long district, completing the main girder across the Red River and the entire bridge from the right bank to the left bank.

Under the scorching summer sun, workers were constructing asphalt concrete pavement for the bridge deck to ensure the project's progress.

The project was carried out entirely by Vietnamese engineers and workers, using advanced construction techniques and technologies saving about 1.5 years compared to the construction of Vinh Tuy bridge - phase 1. That success demonstrates the outstanding expertise of the engineers and workers involved and provides valuable lessons for contractors in future public investment projects.
 

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