Thu Thiem Tunnel section towed to site

The second concrete section of Thu Thiem Tunnel was towed successfully to District 1 from a casting station in Dong Nai Province’s Nhon Trach District yesterday, April 5.

The section, which is 93-m long, 33-m wide, 9-m high and weighs 27,000 tonnes, was towed by four tugboats that were accompanied by two other boats and five police motorboats to ensure smooth passage.

Towing the second section through the 22-km long stretch from Nhon Trach District to the District 1 tunnel site was accomplished about an hour earlier than the first one.

Le Hoang Quan, chairman of the city People’s Committee, said experiences learnt from the first towing and good collaboration between the towing team had expedited the process.

The second section’s towing had the participation of several new stakeholders, including the Southern Weather Forecast Station and waterway police at several points, said Le Toan, head of the towing and installation team.

Toan said it would take about three hours to put the section at the right place on the installation site and about 15 hours to install it.

According to the management board of East-West Highway and Water Environment Project, which includes construction of the tunnel, the installation work of this section would be more difficult because the stretch is in the middle of the riverbed.

The third and fourth sections are to be towed to the site on May 4 and June 4, respectively.

Construction of the tunnel, which links District 1 and 2, is expected to be completed next year.

Viet Nam News

Tags: Thu Thiem Tunnel, Vietnam transportation