Accelerating the 22,000 Billion VND Project Connecting the Central Highlands

Khanh Hoa – Buon Ma Thuot Expressway to Be Completed Six Months Ahead of Schedule

On May 1st, Nguyen Van Huy, representing the Son Hai Group – the construction contractor for the Khanh Hoa – Buon Ma Thuot Expressway – announced the contractor’s commitment to advancing the project’s timeline by six months. This means the two sections will be finished by June 2026.

Six-Month Timeline Reduction

This commitment was made in response to Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s request. During a meeting with Prime Minister Chinh on April 29th, government agencies reported that land clearance for section 1 of the project had reached 74%, while section 2 had reached 72%. Meanwhile, section 3 had achieved 98% completion. The project is estimated to require roughly 3.3 million cubic meters of fill soil, 1.7 million cubic meters of sand, and 4 million cubic meters of rock. Surveys indicate that the supply of basic materials will be adequate.

Section 1 of the project is managed by the Khanh Hoa Provincial People’s Committee and covers a total land clearance area of 228.17 hectares. Currently, land clearance for this section stands at 74%. The delays are primarily due to a 2.8-kilometer section that requires forest conversion at the end of the route and sections passing through residential areas that necessitate resettlement. The project also faces challenges in relocating infrastructure such as 110 kV and 35 kV transmission lines, medium- and low-voltage lines, water supply and drainage systems, lighting systems, and telecommunications networks. Relocation is projected to be completed before June 30th. The authorities are installing markers to hand over 100/185 plots to those affected by the project for the construction of the first phase of housing; the entire project is expected to be completed by June 30th.

Prime Minister Chinh emphasized the crucial importance of the Khanh Hoa – Buon Ma Thuot Expressway, which connects the Central Highlands and South Central Coast regions. He stressed that every day the project is completed earlier, the people will benefit sooner, and the two regions will have better conditions for development. The Prime Minister instructed the provinces of Khanh Hoa and Dak Lak to collaborate with relevant units to complete forest-related procedures, handle asset recovery, and finalize other formalities to facilitate land handover. He encouraged on-site resettlement and the provision of temporary housing to ensure that residents have better or equal living conditions to their previous homes. The Prime Minister also requested that the construction unit shorten the project’s timeline by six months.

The Son Hai Group representative stated that the organization is currently working on sections 1 and 3 of the project and has adequately prepared equipment, personnel, and quarries to operate in three shifts and four teams to expedite construction and meet the six-month reduction target or even exceed it, as requested by the Prime Minister.

Driving Growth and Connectivity

The government has now approved the Revised Master Plan for Construction of the Van Phong Economic Zone until 2040, with a vision for 2050. The economic zone has been divided into 19 sub-zones covering 150,000 hectares, of which 75,166 hectares are on land. The focus of development will be on the strengths of seaports, international container transhipment ports, logistics, urban services, tourism, and industry, along with other related sectors.

As a result, if the Khanh Hoa – Buon Ma Thuot Expressway is expedited and completed ahead of schedule, it will significantly contribute to connecting the two economic regions of South Central Coast and Central Highlands. Pham Van Hoa, Deputy Director of the Khanh Hoa Provincial Project Management Board for Traffic Works Construction, pointed out that the Ninh Hoa township is planning the Ninh Xuan Industrial Park, which is only about 1.8 kilometers from the Khanh Hoa – Buon Ma Thuot Expressway. Once established, this industrial park is expected to attract over 500 projects. Therefore, connecting the industrial park’s infrastructure to the expressway will meet the need for transportation and movement of goods between Ninh Xuan Industrial Park and other functional areas in the region. This will create a foundation, momentum, and new space to serve the region’s economic development. The budget for completing the junction is already included in the project and will not require additional funding. The board has requested that the Ministry of Transport and the Prime Minister invest in completing the junction connecting the Khanh Hoa – Buon Ma Thuot Expressway and National Highway 26 during the project’s phase 1.

Vice Minister of Transport Nguyen Duy Lam acknowledged that the key concern with Khanh Hoa’s request lies with the BOT toll station operating on National Highway 26. Completing the junction during phase 1 would significantly improve traffic flow, but it could also result in a diversion of vehicles to the Khanh Hoa – Buon Ma Thuot Expressway and away from National Highway 26, jeopardizing the investor’s return on investment.

Prime Minister Chinh asserted that the Ministry of Transport should adopt a holistic approach to economic development and prioritize the most beneficial solutions. Consequently, the Prime Minister approved the proposal to complete the junction during phase 1.