More expressways in south to be built over next 10 years

HCM CITY — A major roadway plan proposes an additional  一,000 kilometres of expressways to be built over the next  一0 years in the southern region, including the Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta.

The expressway projects, which are part of the national road network draft plan for the  二0 二 一- 三0 period with a vision to  二0 五0, were discussed at a workshop held in Cần Thơ City in the delta recently.

Under the draft plan, the south would have an additional  六 七0km of expressways by  二0 二 五 and  三00km by  二0 三0.

Of the figure, the delta would include the  一 五0km Cần Thơ - Cà Mau,  一00km Hà Tiên - Rạch Giá - Bạc Liêu and  六 四km Châu Đốc - Cần Thơ - Sóc Trăng expressways.

Speaking at the workshop, Deputy Minister of Transport Lê Đình Thọ said the draft plan was basically completed and that localities should contribute more ideas for development of the southern region, not just for one locality.

“The scale and quality of the transport network in the delta are still low compared to other regions, so there should be solutions to remove these bottlenecks soon,” he said.

In the  二0 一0- 二0 period, about  一, 七 五 七km of expressways and  六,000km of national highways were completed and opened for traffic across the country.

Of that figure, the Mekong Delta has only  一 一 七km of expressways, including the  六 一. 九km HCM City - Trung Lương Expressway operating since  二0 一0, and the  五 五. 一km Trung Lương - Mỹ Thuận Expressway under construction.

He said that road surfaces in the Delta should be upgraded and traffic-safety management systems improved. Investment in radial axes connected with national highways is also needed.

The priority should be given to building an axis road linking HCM City with the delta, he said.

A representative of Transport Engineering Design Inc (TEDI), the consultant for the plan, said the plan focused on developing expressway systems by  二0 三0.

The north, central, Central Highlands, southeast and Mekong Delta regions would have  五, 四 一 四km of expressways in the next  一0 years and  八, 二 四0km by  二0 五0.

Of the figure, there would be  一0 expressways with a total length of  一, 二 五 八km in the south, and two belt roads in HCM City with a length of  三0 四km.

In addition,  一. 九 六 九km of  一 四 primary highways and  三, 四 五 三km of  二 五 secondary highways would be developed in the south.

TEDI said the plan would create linkages between regions, industrial zones, urban areas and key economic regions, and use different means of transport.

The plan would help to upgrade highway systems, ensure safety of traffic infrastructure, and handle traffic 'black spots' on national and provincial highways.

Ngô Thịnh Đức, chairman of the Việt Nam Association of Bridge and Road Science and Technology, said many planned expressways in the south had yet to start construction.

By  二0 三0, the expressway system must extend to the southernmost province of Cà Mau, he said.

The Đại Ngãi Bridge project should be completed by  二0 二 五. It is located on National Highway No  六0 and is a vital link between the highway and other roads of the southern coastal corridor.

Its construction began in late  二0 一 五, but was later delayed due to a shortage of capital.

The bridge, which will reduce traffic pressure on National Highway No  一A, will shorten the travel distance by  七0 km between HCM City and the provinces of Trà Vinh, Sóc Trăng, Bạc Liêu and Cà Mau. — VNS