An architecture design of Cua Luc tunnel project by Transport Engineering Design Inc. (Source: Photo baoquangninh.vn)Quang Ninh (VNA) - ThePeople’s Committee of northeastern Quang Ninh province wants to build anundersea tunnel at Cua Luc Bay and it has submitted a report to Prime MinisterNguyen Xuan Phuc for approval.
The tunnel will connect Vuon Dao T-junction ofBai Chay ward and the coastal roads of the Vinhomes urban area in Ha Long city’sHon Gai ward.
It is expected to have six lanes for vehiclesand with a maximum speed of 60 kilometres per hour.
The project will cost more than 9.7 trillion VND(417.6 million USD). The tunnel has a total length of 2,750 metres and canresist level seven earthquakes.
According to the provincial authority, theconstruction of the tunnel will ease traffic congestion on Bai Chay bridge.
At the moment, the bridge is the only way toconnect Hon Gai and Bai Chay as well as linking tourist sites in the west tothe administration area in the east of Ha Long city.
It will also help improve the traffic corridoron Hai Phong-Ha Long-Van Don-Mong Cai Expressway and strengthen connectivitywith the newly-built Van Don airport.
Nguyen Duc Long, Chairman of the provincial People’sCommittee, said the investment was necessary to complete the key transportsystem in the province.
With the rapid increase of traffic on the route,it is expected that Bai Chay bridge would be overloaded by 2025, he said.
Tran Van Hung, Director of the provincial Departmentof Planning and Investment, said the area was often hit by storms each year.
Whenever there is a storm, relevant forces areforced to suspend traffic on Bai Chay bridge to ensure the safety for roadusers, Hung said.
This affected the lives of local residents, hesaid meaning the Cua Luc tunnel project would play an important role inimproving traffic connectivity in the region.
According to Vu Van Khanh, Director of theprovincial Transport Department, who is also director of the project’s Board ofManagement, the Cua Luc tunnel project was included in the province’s masterplan for transport infrastructure by 2020 and considered a top priority.
Three consultant units have expressed theirinitiatives on the projects including Nippon Koei of Japan, FECON Joint StockCompany and Transport Engineering Design Inc.
They suggested two methods, tunnel boringmachine and immersed tunneling, which are widely selected by many countries forsafety and effectiveness reasons.
The project’s Board of Management has completedappointing contractor and the consulting agencies have conducted surveys on theeffect on nearby communities as well as talking with relevant agencies andorganisations.
Once approved, the project will start this yearand is scheduled for completion in the next five years.-VNA
VNA
