The People’s Committee in the northern province of Quang Ninh want to build an undersea tunnel at Cua Luc Bay. They have submitted the pre-feasibility report to Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc for approval. If it is approved, the project will start this year and is scheduled for completion in the next five years. The project construction will cost more than EUR369.30 million (VND9.7 trillion).

The 1.3km twin -tube tunnel will improve trade between Halong city, Van Don Special Economic Administrative Zone, Mong Cai International Border Gate, and other provinces. The project will create a favourable connection between Halong city’s western tourism area, and the city’s eastern residential area. The project will ensure the transport circulation on National Highway 18 through Halong city, Loong Toong intersection, and the Bai Chay Bridge, which are showing signs of overloading and are at times completely congested, causing small accidents.

The tunnel will have 6 lanes, three lanes on each side, will be 4.75m high and 32.6 m wide,  with a maximum speed of 60 km/hour and it will be able to resist level seven earthquakes.

Three design consulting firms, including Japan’s Nippon Koei Co., Ltd, and Vietnam’s FECON Corporation and Transport Engineering Design Inc. have proposed two solutions for the tunnel’s construction one using a TBM to excavate the tunnel and the other to immerse ready-built sections of the tunnel into place.  Visit http://dtinews.vn/en/news/017/60721/undersea-tunnel-planned-in-ha-long-city.html. 08/19.