First element of Thu Thiem Tunnel immersed
By Anh Quan - The Saigon Times Daily
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| The first element of the Thu Thiem Tunnel, with two positioning towers still visible, was immersed underneath the Saigon River on Monday - Photo: Anh Quan |
HCMC – The first element of Thu Thiem Tunnel was immersed under the Saigon River on Monday morning after it was towed for 22 kilometers from Dong Nai Province’s Nhon Trach District to HCMC on Tuesday.
The immersion began one hour sooner than scheduled due to sudden changes in the river’s flow speed.
Contractor Obayashi filled the section with water to maintain its position. Then, it was pumped with concrete and sand to ensure it stuck to the tunnel.
In a meeting with the Japanese contractor on Monday, HCMC chairman Le Hoang Quan said the successful towing of the tunnel’s first section should be a lesson to the team that will tow the ensuing units.
He added though that the contractor should study the river’s flow to ensure the three remaining sections can be transported during the wet season.