Will invest in expanding and completing 12 expressways

The Ministry of Transport has just issued a document reporting to the Government on the assessment and research of investment in upgrading expressways currently in operation according to the investment phase scale.

According to the Ministry of Transport, 12 expressways have been put into operation, including 5 two-lane routes with a total length of 371km, including Cam Lo - La Son, La Son - Hoa Lien, Yen Bai - Lao Cai, Hoa Lac - Hoa Binh, Thai Nguyen - Cho Moi.

There are 7 4-lane routes with intermittent emergency stops with a length of 372 km including: Cao Bo - Mai Son, Mai Son - National Highway 45, National Highway 45 - Nghi Son, Nghi Son - Dien Chau, Nha Trang - Cam Lam, Vinh Hao - Phan Thiet, Trung Luong - My Thuan.

The Ministry of Transport emphasized that the scale of investment in expressways is suitable for transportation needs during the period when traffic volume is not large (about 5,000 - 6,000 vehicles/day and night), especially effective for expressways connecting to mountainous provinces and difficult areas, with an operation period of 6 - 10 years.

However, the investment phase with a cross-section width of 2 lanes, without a median strip, poses a potential risk of traffic safety. In addition, the 4-lane road with an intermittent emergency stop strip poses a risk of traffic congestion in the event of an incident; the operating speed during the investment phase is not high, about 80km/h - 90km/h. In particular, the investment phase can have a longer impact on the environment and community than a complete investment at once.

Assessing the conditions for expanding two-lane highways, the Ministry of Transport said that the scale, potential and autonomy of the economy have been raised; the private economic sector has developed and can participate in infrastructure investment; at the same time, the demand for road transport is increasing.

In addition, the road network planning for the period 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2050, all expressways are planned with a scale of 4 - 10 lanes, operating speed of 80 - 120 km/h. The planning also sets the goal of investing in gradually synchronous, modern, and safe roads.

In particular, the Prime Minister also directed not to invest in two-lane highways, which would waste investment capital, be ineffective in exploitation, and take more time and procedures to upgrade.

Based on the above reasons, the Ministry of Transport is developing mechanisms, policies; technical standards and regulations; mobilizing resources to soon invest in expanding and completing the expressways currently in operation on a phased scale.

The Ministry of Transport, localities and relevant agencies have been reviewing and mobilizing resources to invest in expanding 12 expressways in operation (5 two-lane routes and 7 four-lane routes with intermittent emergency stopping strips).

Specifically:

The Ministry of Transport has reported to the competent authority to allow investment in expanding the La Son - Hoa Lien route from 2 lanes to 4 lanes; expanding the Cao Bo - Mai Son route to 6 lanes according to the planning using the increased budget revenue in 2022, and the Trung Luong - My Thuan route under the PPP form.

The Vietnam Expressway Corporation (VEC) is studying capital mobilization plans and investment forms to expand the Yen Bai - Lao Cai section of the Hanoi - Lao Cai Expressway from 2 lanes to 4 lanes under the direction of the Prime Minister.

For the remaining sections including Cam Lo - La Son, Thai Nguyen - Cho Moi, Mai Son - National Highway 45, National Highway 45 - Nghi Son, Nghi Son - Dien Chau, Nha Trang - Cam Lam, Vinh Hao - Phan Thiet, the Ministry of Transport has directed the Vietnam Road Administration to monitor traffic volume, study to improve operating speed, apply technology in management and operation to regulate traffic, and promptly handle incidents. The Ministry of Transport is reviewing, listing, and prioritizing investment to propose and report to competent authorities for permission to expand when resources are sufficient.

Regarding new construction investment projects, the Ministry of Transport said it will study the construction in compliance with highway standards; prioritize investment in a scale of 4 complete highway lanes as being implemented with the Cho Moi - Bac Kan, Ninh Binh - Hai Phong, Gia Nghia - Chon Thanh routes; expand the cross-section to ensure exploitation meets highway standards such as the Hanoi - Thai Nguyen highway.