Reviewing infrastructure on 2-lane expressways
According to Circular No. 16/TTg on February 21, 2024 by the Prime Minister about speeding up research and implementation of investment in upgrading the existing expressway routes, the Prime Minister directed the ministries of Public Security, Transport, Planning and Investment, Finance, Science and Technology, Natural Resources and Environment, Agriculture and Rural Development, Chairperson of the State Capital Management Committee in Enterprises, Chairpersons of the People’s Committees of provinces and cities to urgently study investment options and upgrade 2-lane expressways.
Nha Trang – Cam Lam Expressway.
According to the announcement, there is a need for capital to invest in large-scale expressway systems while resources are limited. In order to meet the socio-economic development needs of localities, the Ministry of Transport and localities will research and propose the investment of several expressway routes in a phased manner.
However, in the past, there have been some limitations in operating the phased expressway routes such as potential risks to traffic safety, traffic congestion, and traffic accidents, such as the accident that occurred on February 18 on the Cam Lo – La Son expressway…
To promptly address these limitations, enhance traffic safety, and improve the efficiency of expressway operation, the Prime Minister requested the Minister of Transport to direct functional agencies to study appropriate, scientific, efficient traffic organization measures and best control traffic activities to ensure traffic safety on phased expressways, protecting the lives, health, and properties of the people.
Significantly, the Ministry of Transport will lead and coordinate with localities to focus on the earliest investment in 2-lane expressway routes. They will thoroughly review and supplement all necessary and synchronous infrastructure on these routes, such as intelligent transportation systems, rest stops, etc., in order to report to the Prime Minister in March 2024.
The People’s Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities are responsible for urgently studying and proposing investment options for upgrading the phased expressway routes they have invested in, sending them to the Ministry of Transport before March 15 and reviewing and implementing land clearance work to serve the investment and upgrading of the expressway routes.
In addition, the State Capital Management Committee in Enterprises directed the Vietnam Expressway Corporation to urgently study and propose investment options for upgrading the expressway routes they manage and operate according to the phased investment scale, sending them to the Ministry of Transport before March 15.
Prioritizing resources for upgrades
According to Mr. Le Kim Thanh, Director of the Vietnam Expressway Authority, the Ministry of Transport has instructed a comprehensive review of phased expressway routes, especially 2-lane routes, to build plans and prioritize the order for upgrading and expanding when there are sufficient resources. In recent times, Vietnam has focused on investing in the development of 2-lane expressways in the context of a developing economy with limited investment resources. When the economy develops and resources are available, these expressways will be expanded to 4-lane routes.
Nghi Son – Dien Chau Expressway.
Through research, investment in complete-scale expressway routes has a high investment cost. In conditions of limited resources, phased investment is appropriate to meet the immediate needs and achieve a balance between capital resources and the early construction of many expressway routes to meet the urgent socio-economic development needs of localities.
Phased investment will reduce the total investment amount of projects by 30 – 50%, making it suitable for resource balancing in each stage. Particularly, phased investment will help localities establish an expressway system to meet the goals of the 10-year Socio-Economic Development Strategy from 2021 to 2030, the Road Network Planning for the 2021 – 2030 period, and the vision until 2050 set by the Government.
According to statistics from the Ministry of Transport, the country currently has 12 phased investment expressway routes in operation, with a total length of 743 km, accounting for 40% of the total length of operational expressways. Among them, 5 two-lane expressways with a total length of 371 km including Cam Lo – La Son (98 km), La Son – Hoa Lien (66 km), Yen Bai – Lao Cai (141 km), Hoa Lac – Hoa Binh (26 km), Thai Nguyen – Cho Moi (40 km).
In addition, there are 7 four-lane expressways with non-stop emergency stopping strips, with a total length of 372 km including Cao Bo – Mai Son (15 km), Mai Son – QL45 (63 km), QL45 – Nghi Son (43 km), Nghi Son – Dien Chau (50 km), Nha Trang – Cam Lam (49 km), Vinh Hao – Phan Thiet (101 km), Trung Luong – My Thuan (51 km).
In implementing the Prime Minister’s guidance on reviewing and prioritizing resources for upgrading and expanding 2-lane expressways, the Ministry of Transport has directed agencies and units to comprehensively review phased investment expressway routes, especially 2-lane ones, assess their existing limitations, and build appropriate plans and solutions to upgrade and ensure the 4-lane scale.
In which, mobilizing resources will prioritize the investment in upgrading and expanding existing expressways in the form of PPP (BOT contracts) or upgrading existing expressways under the PPP method. Currently, the Ministry of Transport has reviewed and reported to the competent authorities to allow the expansion of the La Son – Hoa Lien route (66 km) from 2 lanes to 4 lanes; and expansion according to the 6-lane plan of the Cao Bo – Mai Son route (15 km) with increased revenues for the 2022 budget, the Trung Luong – My Thuan route (51 km) under the PPP form…
