According to the option proposed by the ministry, the two sections will have a total length of nearly 52km, with about 45km in Kien Giang Province.

They are the 11.2km Rach Soi-Ben Nhat section and the 40.6km Go Quao-Vinh Thuan section.

The total investment of the sections is estimated at VND3.9 trillion (US$163 million) from the State budget.

The construction requires land acquisition of 96ha and relocation of more than 180 households.

Under the national road network plan in the period of 2021-30, with a vision for 2050, the sections will have two lanes, with a maximum speed of 80km per hour.

The site clearance and resettlement for the sections is expected to be implemented over two years (2022-2023), and the construction of the sections will begin in 2023 and complete in 2025.

The sections will help diversify modes of transport, promote the circulation of goods and passenger transportation, reduce transport time and costs, ensure traffic safety, and support socio-economic development in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta provinces.

The Ho Chi Minh Expressway project is an important work, having great significance in the economy, national defence-security, hunger eradication, and poverty alleviation.

The Party and State are paying great attention and allocate resources to implement the project.

The project was planned to open in 2020 but so far around 86 per cent of the work has been completed.

Passing through 28 provinces and cities from Pac Po in the northern Cao Bang Province to Dat Mui in the southernmost province of Ca Mau, the expressway project was estimated to receive a total investment of VND99.2 trillion ($4.1 billion).

From 2000 to 2011, the project's progress was on track.

However, due to the influence of the global economic crisis, the Government issued Resolution No 11/NQ-CP on February 24, 2011, and stopped or delayed projects, including component projects of the Ho Chi Minh Expressway.

More than 2,360km have been completed so far, reaching 86.1 per cent of the whole route, and about 258km of branch lines were completed too.

Other 211km of the expressway are under construction while the remaining 171km have not yet been allocated capital for implementation.

Road expansion

The Ministry of Transport has approved a project on upgrading and expanding the 29km Cao Lanh-Lộ Tẻ Route passing Dong Thap Province and the city of Can Tho.

The project will build a new intersection and 29 new bridges on the route.

The route will be widened to six lanes, and connect to the Lo Te-Rach Soi route in Can Tho.

The total investment cost is around VND950 billion ($39.6 million). The project will be carried out from 2022 to 2025. 

Source: Vietnam News