The Ministry of Transport has taken a significant step towards fulfilling the goals set by Resolution No. 11-NQ/TW of the Politburo, by approving the upgrade project for the National Highway 4B, specifically the section from Km18 to Km80. This decision, outlined in Resolution No. 516/QD-BGTVT issued on April 28, 2023, entrusts the Lang Son Provincial Department of Transport with the responsibility of investing in and managing the project. The total investment for this 62.56-kilometer stretch of road is estimated at VND 2,296,447 million, funded by the Program for Socio-Economic Recovery and Development.
Project route map for the upgrade of the National Highway 4B from Km18 to Km80.
In terms of scale, the project will involve upgrading the section from the beginning of the route to the intersection with DT236 to a four-lane road with a roadbed width of 24.5 meters and a designed speed of 80 km/h. The sections passing through Na Duong and Dinh Lap towns will remain unchanged, with only the road surface being reinforced.
From the DT236 intersection to the existing National Highway 4B intersection, the road will be a two-lane configuration with a roadbed width of 12 meters and a designed speed of 80 km/h. The remaining sections will feature a two-lane setup with a roadbed width of 12 meters and a designed speed of 60 km/h. Concrete and pre-stressed concrete will be used for the construction of bridges, in accordance with current design standards for road and bridge construction. The project is expected to be completed by 2024.
The project has received necessary approvals, including the investment policy approved by the Ministry of Transport in Decision No. 141/QD-BGTVT on February 28, 2023, and the project approval in Decision No. 516/QD-BGTVT on April 28, 2023. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has also issued Decision No. 1516/QD-BTNMT on June 7, 2023, approving the environmental impact assessment report. Additionally, the Lang Son Provincial People’s Council has passed Resolution No. 02/NQ-HDND on February 27, 2023, approving the proposal to convert 37.224 hectares of planted forest outside the three types of forest planning for other purposes.
As the investor, the Lang Son Provincial Department of Transport has approved the construction design and implemented the post-feasibility study design for the project. The plan for selecting contractors was approved by the Ministry of Transport in Decision No. 921/QD-BGTVT on July 28, 2023, and Decision No. 1012/QD-BGTVT on August 15, 2023. To date, 11 out of 15 packages have been successfully bid, 2 are in the bidding process, and the remaining 2 are expected to be bid in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Package No. 7, which involves the construction of the National Highway 4B section from Km18 to Km43, has been awarded to a joint venture of three contractors: Xuan Quang Construction Joint Stock Company, TAG-Thuan An Group Joint Stock Company, and VINADELTA Joint Stock Company.
Groundbreaking ceremony for the National Highway 4B upgrade project held in Loc Binh district, Lang Son province, on December 28, 2023. Photo: Duy Chien
Recently, the Investigation Police Agency under the Ministry of Public Security has initiated legal proceedings in a case involving “Violation of regulations on bidding, causing serious consequences; bribery; and receiving bribes” related to Thuan An Group Joint Stock Company and other units and organizations. Several individuals have been prosecuted in various provinces and cities nationwide. On May 7, 2024, the Standing Committee of the Provincial Steering Committee for Corruption and Negative Prevention and Control convened a meeting, chaired by the Provincial Party Committee Secretary and Head of the Provincial Steering Committee, to discuss relevant issues.
During the meeting, it was decided to establish a working group led by the Head of the Provincial Commission for Internal Affairs, who also serves as the Standing Vice Head of the Provincial Steering Committee. This working group is tasked with inspecting, evaluating, and providing recommendations for handling any violations in the bidding, tendering, and contractor selection processes for the project, in accordance with Party regulations and state laws. Any acts of corruption or negativity will be promptly investigated, prevented, and handled according to regulations.
