A section of the HCMC-Long Thanh-Dau Giay Expressway, one of the component projects of the North-South Expressway – Photo: Le Anh

Since 2011, the country has built 1,074 kilometers of expressways, taking the total length of expressways nationwide to 1,163 kilometers. As such, the country has almost failed to meet its target of 2,000 kilometers of expressways by the end of 2020.

“From 2016-2020, we planned to build over 600 kilometers of expressways. However, it took two years for investment preparation. We only had three years for site clearance and construction. In the 2021-2025 period, investment preparation must be finished in the first year,” Dung said.

To meet the target of having 5,000 kilometers of expressways by 2030, the country will need a huge amount of capital. The North-South Expressway alone, which links Hanoi and Can Tho City, requires some VND300 trillion (over US$12 billion).

“The most important mission of the Ministry of Transport is to create a favorable legal corridor to effectively mobilize resources for the investment and development of transport infrastructure,” he said. 

For expressways that are currently under construction, Dung asked the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Planning and Investment to work together to accelerate the projects.

According to Deputy Minister of Transport Le Dinh Tho, in the northern region, expressways connecting Hanoi with the surrounding provinces and the Haiphong-Halong-Van Don coastal expressway have been complete.

In the southern region, the HCMC-Long Thanh-Dau Giay and the HCMC-Trung Luong expressways are complete, while the Ben Luc-Long Thanh and Trung Luong-My Thuan expressways are being built.

In the central and Central Highlands regions, the Ministry of Transport has completed the Danang-Quang Ngai and Lien Khuong-Dalat expressways.

In 2021, the ministry will prioritize the Ben Luc-Long Thanh Expressway, components of the North-South Expressway, the first phase of the My Thuan-Can Tho Expressway and other projects in the Central Highlands and northern mountainous regions.

The ministry will also focus on HCMC’s first metro line, Hanoi’s urban railway project and the first phase of the Long Thanh International Airport in Dong Nai Province. 

Deputy Prime Minister Dung said Vietnam will need up to US$80 billion for 16 metro and urban railway projects in Hanoi and HCMC.  SGT

Key transport projects kick off in 2020

Construction of several national key projects, including the North-South Expressway and Long Thanh International Airports, have started.

Seven more expressways planned to improve connectivity in Mekong Delta

The Ministry of Transport proposes building seven more expressways with a total length of 774km in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta by 2030.