Minister Nguyen Van Thang directs investors, contractors to accelerate progress at the North-South expressway project in the East phase 2021-2025. (Photo: PV/Vietnam+)
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With field surveys along the North-South expressway projects in the 2021-2025 phase, Minister of Transport Nguyen Van Thang affirmed that these are important transportation projects, so the related entities must consider them as their responsibility and make efforts to bring the projects to completion, ensuring the quality of the works and connecting the expressway system early.
The early completion of the expressway will create new momentum for the localities.
Directly inspecting the Quang Ngai-Hoai Nhon, Hoai Nhon-Quy Nhon, Quy Nhon-Chi Thanh, Chi Thanh-Van Phong, Van Phong-Nha Trang expressway projects (March 4) and the Can Tho-Hau Giang, Hau Giang-Ca Mau projects (March 6), Minister Nguyen Van Thang acknowledged the efforts made by the investors and contractors to implement the projects and push the progress, while reiterating the consistent directive of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh that “wherever the transportation develops, new development space will be opened up, with many urban areas, industrial zones, services, and tourism destinations being established.”
Therefore, he requested that each individual and unit participating in the infrastructure projects raise their awareness of their responsibilities; innovate their thinking, mindset, and approach to make efforts to complete the expressways by the target of early 2025 with the highest political determination, ensuring the connectivity of the expressway system.
“At present, the basic land clearance has been resolved, and the input material resources are guaranteed. The localities support and the people agree, so the construction units must accelerate the construction progress, working in three shifts and four teams to regain the progress for the initial difficult phase regarding land clearance and material resources,” emphasized Minister Nguyen Van Thang.
Listening to the reports of the contractors, supervision consultants, and opinions of the localities, Minister Nguyen Van Thang assessed that the expressways through Binh Dinh, Quang Ngai, Phu Yen, and Khanh Hoa provinces have clear changes at the construction sites when a large number of laborers and machines are mobilized.
Based on what he has witnessed, the head of the Ministry of Transport believed that the projects will surpass the planned progress and will soon be ready for people to travel, in order to celebrate the Party Congress at all levels and nationwide.
“The early completion of projects will promote socio-economic development, attract investment, and create new momentum for the localities that the projects pass through and the whole country,” emphasized the Minister.
The contractor implements the asphalt pavement of the East phase of the North-South expressway project. (Photo: Viet Hung/Vietnam+)
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For the Cao Tho-Ca Mau expressway component project, Minister Nguyen Van Thang directed the Project Management Board of My Thuan to work with the localities that have sand sources to support the supply of the remaining 3 million cubic meters, including direct supply and commercial purchase at the state-regulated price. At the same time, the board continues to coordinate with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Soc Trang, and Tra Vinh provinces to complete the procedures for granting the sea sand mining permits in March so that mining can start in April 2024.
“The contractors, supervision consultants must implement vigorously to ensure the fastest construction and strive to complete the Ca Mau-Tho expressway project as soon as possible, with the latest deadline being December 31, 2025, to ensure the entire North-South expressway is put into operation, serving the people. The My Thuan Project Management Board, with its jurisdiction and responsibility as the project owner, must direct the acceleration of the progress, ensure the quality, and strictly handle any contractors who violate the contract and legal regulations,” directed Minister Nguyen Van Thang.
Not to complete the expressway without rest stops
At each inspection point, the head of the Ministry of Transport requested each functional unit, contractor, and supervision consultant to report on quality control solutions.
Asserting that any contractor that does not ensure quality will have to redo the work immediately, according to Minister Nguyen Van Thang, the project owner and supervision consultant must strengthen the inspection and strict supervision of the quality and origin of materials, supplies, and equipment used in the project; the construction methods, construction quality, and acceptance of work items to ensure that the works meet the requirements of the design dossier and the project’s technical guidelines.
“In any case, the quality of the works must be the top priority, and there must be no compromise on the quality of the works for any reason. The quality of the expressways in phase 2, implemented from 2023, will certainly be better than phase 1 due to better construction conditions, more experience, contractors with financial resources, construction capacity, and modern equipment,” emphasized Minister Thang.
Minister of Transport Nguyen Van Thang directs project owners not to complete the expressway without rest stops. (Photo: PV/Vietnam+)
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Note that projects with good progress must be completed comprehensively because the road does not only consist of the hard infrastructure but also requires completing the software, such as intelligent traffic management systems, rest stops, etc. Minister Nguyen Van Thang believed that the North-South expressway will be a major transport artery with a large volume of vehicles.
He also recognized that if rest stops are implemented slowly, it will cause the issue of vehicles stopping on the expressway, compromising traffic safety, aesthetics, and the environment. Rest stops must not only meet the standards, but also strive to surpass the standards, scale, and convenience. The localities need to get involved and support to ensure timely implementation.
“Under no circumstances should the completion of the expressways be allowed without rest stops. The expressways with rest stops will limit the parking of vehicles on the roadside, which is prone to accidents and harms traffic safety, aesthetics, and environmental pollution. We must completely overcome the existing problems of the projects implemented before 2020. The phase 2 expressways starting construction in 2023 must be carried out in a coordinated manner; the quality and aesthetics must be better; the hard infrastructure must be immediately equipped with software for intelligent traffic organization, enabling the full operation of the entire route in 2025,” directed the Minister.
Viet Hung
