Quang Ngai - Hoai Nhon Expressway and more than 1,000 days of rapid construction

Opening a road on the cliff

In the last days of 2025, when the Central region is bustling to prepare for Tet early, the Quang Ngai - Hoai Nhon expressway is also entering the final stages of completion. From the tops of the mountains bordering Quang Ngai - Gia Lai, the call for work resounds like the inner drum of more than 1,000 days and nights without stopping.

Few people thought that after only three rainy and stormy seasons, an 88 km long expressway with three tunnels with a total length of over 4.5 km could be completed more than 8 months early. But what seemed impossible became a reality on December 19, 2025 - the moment the project was officially inaugurated and opened to traffic on the entire route.

Right from the groundbreaking date in early January 2023, the Prime Minister has clearly directed: Wherever you open, do it, absolutely do not let the procedures get stuck or overlap. That order became a "commander" for contractors to manage the progress day by day, every hour.

The first construction teams entered the rugged rocky mountains, where many sections had never seen the footsteps of heavy machinery. In temporary camps built on the mountainside, workers of Deo Ca Group recounted that there were peak months when they almost "lived in the basement", facing many dangers. Mr. Tran Hai Au - a worker at XL2 package said: "On rainy days, the water bounces down and becomes white. No one told anyone, just gathered and did it. An hour late is a delay in the entire progress chain".

At tunnel No. 3 - the "heart" of the project - construction conditions are even harsher. The tunnel is more than 3,200m long, the largest in the entire North - South expressway in the 2021-2025 period, at times more than 500 engineers and workers are divided into 3 shifts throughout the 24 hours. "We dug the mountain with all our strength and pride. Each tunnel meter is a milestone of perseverance" - Mr. Nguyen Tien Thanh - Commander of tunnel No. 3 shared.

In mid-December 2025, when reporters were present at the construction site, the bustling atmosphere appeared on each face. More than 80/88km of the road surface has been paved; 60 bridges are simultaneously completed. The construction teams focus on intersections, service roads and traffic safety systems. In the tunnel, electrical engineer Nguyen Huu Thang and the technical team are busy checking the fan system, lighting, camera, loudspeaker and fire prevention and fighting. "Seeing the tunnel glowing and the systems operating smoothly, we feel like we have lifted the mountain of pressure" - Mr. Thang said.

Outside, the groups constructing asphalt pavement, painting road markings, installing railings, signs, etc. The sound of endless machines, blending with the calls of workers, created the passionate music of the construction site.

1,000 days of speed

According to the contract, the project is expected to be completed in August 2026. However, with the determination of Project Management Board 2 and the efforts of the consortium of contractors led by Deo Ca Group, the progress has been spectacularly shortened. Each item is divided into smaller items, implemented in parallel - "tunnels for tunnels, bridges for bridges, roads for roads" - completely reduces waiting time.

Mr. Tran Dai Xuan - Deputy Director of the Project Management Board - affirmed: "It's not luck. This is the result of a scientific construction organization and a very high sense of responsibility of the entire force.

On December 19, 2025, the Quang Ngai - Hoai Nhon expressway officially reached the finish line, more than 8 months ahead of schedule - one of the rare progress records of the transport sector. With a total investment of more than VND 20,400 billion, the expressway passes through Quang Ngai and Gia Lai, opening a new connection axis between the Central - Central Highlands, designed with 4 lanes, operating at a speed of 80km/h.

The appearance of this route significantly reduces the load on National Highway 1 - which has been overloaded for many years - while creating a new traffic "bloodline" for the regional economy. The expressway helps shorten transportation time between Dung Quat seaport, Central Highlands industrial parks to the Central Highlands, creating a strong boost for logistics and trade.

On the opening day, many workers stood still watching the first line of vehicles passing through the tunnel. No one said anything, but in their eyes, pride was shining. More than 1,000 days - not long compared to the decades-old life of the expressway - but that is the time of hardship, of the spirit of "not having enough day to do" - taking advantage of the night", of quick meals at the drilling machine, sleeping in mountain ranges.

Now, on the cliffs that were once deeply dug, a modern road has been opened, connecting the lands, connecting even dreams. The Quang Ngai - Hoai Nhon Expressway has been completed and its story will be repeated as a testament to the aspiration of thousands of people who have created a straight road in the sunny and windy Central region.

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