(Construction) - On the morning of 11 March, Deputy Minister of Construction Nguyen Viet Hung conducted an inspection of the Hoai Nhon – Quy Nhon Expressway project.

At Km 21, Package 11-XL of the project, a representative of Truong Son Construction Corporation reported that the section passing through natural forest from Km 18+650 to Km 21+100 is considered the project critical path and is currently facing several implementation challenges.

Here, the volume of excavated soil and rock remains substantial, with approximately 1.7 million m³ yet to be excavated. Of this, around 0.65 million m³ is to be used for roadbed construction and crushed stone production. Meanwhile, only about seven months remain to complete the works.

Deputy Minister Nguyen Viet Hung (dark blue shirt, standing in the middle) listens to the progress report on the Hoai Nhon – Quy Nhon Expressway project.

The delay stems from the fact that the section passing through natural forest was handed over by the local authorities on 30 November 2024 for both timber harvesting and the excavation and crushing of soil and rock to produce crushed stone mix. However, as this coincided with the peak of the rainy season, the contractor was unable to proceed with the planned construction schedule. At this section, six construction teams have now been mobilised to tackle the 1.7 million m³ of soil and rock, working to recover the project progress.

Deputy Minister Nguyen Viet Hung emphasised that this is the most critical section affecting the progress of both the package and the entire project. He encouraged the contractor to make every effort to overcome the challenges, while also urging Truong Son Construction Corporation to fully concentrate its resources on the site.

“The contractor should focus completely, or it will be impossible to complete the work on schedule. It is essential to increase machinery and equipment, expand the number of construction fronts. Work must continue in three shifts with four teams, braving both sun and rain—only then, in line with the Prime Minister’s consistent directive, can the project be completed” the Deputy Minister stressed.

The Deputy Minister urged Truong Son Construction Corporation to prioritise accelerating the project progress.

He noted that, at present, expressway contractors and investors are receiving substantial support, encouragement, and close guidance from the Government. Working groups led by the Deputy Prime Ministers have conducted on-site inspections of all projects, promptly addressing difficulties and obstacles as they arise.

Speaking to Construction Newspaper, Mr Nguyen Chi Hieu, Deputy Director of the Department of Economics – Construction Investment Management under the Ministry of Construction, affirmed that the project currently faces no issues regarding site clearance. “The most crucial factor now is that contractors should remain focused and committed to construction, making up for delays to ensure the project is completed on schedule” he said.

To accelerate progress, Project Management Board 85 has requested Truong Son Construction Corporation—the contractor for package 11-XL—to increase the number of construction teams, mobilise additional equipment and manpower, work overtime, and extend shifts to make up for delays.

For package 12-XL, contractors are also urged to deploy more machinery and equipment, taking advantage of the weather conditions at the end of the rainy season to expedite the earthworks for layers K95 and K98. The goal is to ensure the completion of earthworks along the main route by 31 March 2025.