Launching underground tunnel project through Da Nang airport

On August 27, Mr. Nguyen Minh Huy, Director of the City's Traffic and Agricultural Construction Investment Project Management Board, said that he had organized the opening of the bidding package for the Consulting package to prepare a pre-feasibility study report for the tunnel route through Da Nang airport.

A corner of Da Nang airport. Photo: THANH LAN

Key traffic projects

The bidding minutes show that the winning bidder is the Large Bridge - Tunnel Design Consulting Joint Stock Company, a unit that has participated in many large-scale infrastructure projects across the country. The bid package is worth more than 3.8 billion VND, implemented under a 118-day lump sum contract. This is a signal showing Da Nang's initiative and determination in investing in transport infrastructure, contributing to the overall development of the entire key economic region of the Central region.

The project to build a tunnel through Da Nang airport is considered one of the key projects to solve traffic congestion and create development momentum for the city. Currently, Nguyen Van Linh, Nguyen Tri Phuong and Duy Tan streets, which are the routes connecting the city center with the airport and the western communes and wards, are often overloaded during rush hours. Investing in a tunnel through the airport not only helps shorten travel time, but also reduces pressure on important intersections, ensuring smooth traffic.

Da Nang Airport welcomes hundreds of flights every day and is the largest airport in the Central region. Photo: THANH LAN

The Da Nang airport tunnel project has a total estimated investment of 10,000 billion VND, currently starting with a consulting package to prepare a pre-feasibility report. According to traffic experts, this project will create a breakthrough in infrastructure connectivity, making it easier for tourists to travel from the airport to coastal resorts, while supporting commercial and logistics activities. This is also a premise for the city to plan a more synchronous and modern urban space.

According to the proposal of the Department of Construction, to build a tunnel through the airport, the section outside the operating runway will be constructed with closed and open tunnels using the open excavation method; the section under the operating runway has two options: using the Pipe Roof method and the TBM method. However, the Department of Construction proposed to apply the Pipe Roof method for the section under the runway, because the tunnel is shallow, easily connected to outside traffic and there have been many similar projects in the world applying this method.

Propose 2 options

According to the preliminary plan submitted by the Department of Construction in the first quarter of 2025, the tunnel will be more than 2.9km long, including two open tunnel sections with a total length of 570m, three box tunnel sections with a total length of 1,450m and a tunnel through the existing runway of 900m. There are two proposed options: Option 1 is a subway line (MRT) running with the road; Option 2 is an MRT line not running with the road.

Passengers check in at Da Nang airport. Photo: THANH LAN

If using option 1, the cost is about 10,000 billion VND, the safety/operation level is average, it is difficult to expand MRT, and the compatibility with Da Nang airport infrastructure is high. Meanwhile, option 2 has a lower technical difficulty, the cost is about 7,500 billion VND, the safety/operation level is high, the MRT is easy to expand, but the compatibility with Da Nang airport infrastructure is average.

The Department of Construction of Da Nang City recommends that for the tunnel route through the airport, it is not advisable to combine the MRT route and the road. The reason is that the technical standards of the MRT and the road are different, so it would be quite forced to combine them.

At the same time, the progress of the MRT line investment has not been determined, so with the rapid change in technology, the determination of the route and technology will be selected at the time of investment. However, with the actual conditions such as Da Nang airport being planned for expansion, the MRT line option also needs to be studied soon.

Mr. Nguyen Minh Huy said that the tunnel will connect from the western beltway 2, go underground through Truong Chinh street and connect with Duy Tan street. The project will not only reduce traffic pressure around the airport, but also open up a new development direction for the northwest area of ​​the city, where there is still a lot of urban space.

A corner of Da Nang Airport seen from Nguyen Van Linh Street. Photo: THANH LAN

According to the plan, the pre-feasibility study report will be submitted to the City People's Committee in the third quarter of 2025. The city government also aims to synchronously invest in both road tunnels and MRT, ensuring a long-term vision and encouraging people to use public transport.

If implemented on schedule, the airport tunnel will solve the city's biggest traffic congestion point, while also acting as a lever to improve regional and international connectivity. The project is an effort to realize Resolution No. 43-NQ/TW of the Politburo on Da Nang development to 2030, with a vision to 2045, to build the city into a dynamic urban area, a financial - tourism - logistics center of the region.

Source: https://baodanang.vn/khoi-dong-du-an-ham-ngam-qua-san-bay-da-nang-3300495.html