On Track for Completion: Can Tho – Ca Mau Expressway to be Operational by 2025
On December 15, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh inspected and reviewed the progress of the Can Tho – Ca Mau Expressway project.
The Can Tho – Ca Mau Expressway is the final segment of the North-South Expressway in the east of the country. The first phase (2015-2020) saw the completion of 11 project components totaling nearly 700 km. The current phase aims to finish the remaining 12 components by 2025, resulting in a total length of approximately 730 km.
Completing the Can Tho – Ca Mau project on time is of utmost importance as it will connect the entire North-South Expressway, opening up new development opportunities and linking localities in the three regions of North, Central, and South Vietnam. It will also inspire and motivate other critical projects to meet their deadlines in 2026 and beyond.
The Prime Minister emphasized that there should be no changes to the deadline, and the North-South Expressway in the east must be operational by December 31, 2025. Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac
The Can Tho – Ca Mau Expressway consists of a main route over 110.85 km long and a 25.85 km connector. It is divided into two project components: the Can Tho – Hau Giang section and the Hau Giang – Ca Mau section. The total investment for the project is VND 27,500 billion, with construction starting on January 1, 2023, and completion scheduled for December 31, 2025.
According to reports, the progress made on the Can Tho – Ca Mau Expressway project is noteworthy. Specifically, land clearance has been completed for the entire 110.8 km main route and is nearing completion for the 28 km connector, with only about 200 meters left to be resolved in Can Tho city.
Contractors have mobilized 234 construction crews, 971 equipment units, and 3,000 workers, operating in three shifts. The project has achieved 55% and 61% of the planned output. Regarding sand filling, 11.8 million cubic meters out of the required 15.2 million cubic meters for 2024 have been delivered to the site, leaving a deficit of 3.4 million cubic meters. Cumulative disbursement has reached VND 14,353 billion out of VND 14,766 billion (97% of the plan), and VND 5,831 billion out of VND 6,356 billion has been disbursed this year (92% of the plan), meeting the set goals.
In his conclusion, the Prime Minister firmly stated that there should be no changes to the deadline, and the Can Tho – Ca Mau project must be completed by December 31, 2025, to ensure the operation of the North-South Expressway in the east by the end of 2025. This is a heartfelt command, a requirement of the country, and the expectation of the people.
Construction work progresses on the Can Tho – Ca Mau Expressway project. Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac
Plans to Extend the Expressway from Ca Mau City to Dat Mui
During the working session after inspecting the Can Tho – Ca Mau Expressway project, the Prime Minister assigned relevant ministries, sectors, and localities to study the implementation of the expressway segment from Ca Mau City to Dat Mui (approximately 80 km). He instructed Ca Mau to take charge of the project with the support and capital allocation from the Central Government, aiming to commence construction next year.
Previously, the Road Department also proposed adding a new route to the master plan for the Ca Mau – Dat Mui Expressway, with a length of about 90 km and a scale of four lanes. This proposal is for investment after 2030.
The forecast traffic volume for the Ca Mau – Dat Mui section by 2030 is about 18,300-20,100 passenger car equivalents per day, necessitating the construction of a four-lane expressway to match the scale of the Can Tho – Ca Mau section.
The North-South Expressway will extend to the tip of Ca Mau. Photo: Ca Mau Tourism
According to the plan, the Ca Mau – Dat Mui Expressway will run parallel to National Highway 1 and Ho Chi Minh Road until it reaches Rach Goc town and then continues to Dat Mui (Ngoc Hien district). This alignment aims to leverage the advantages and potential of the future Hon Khoai International Seaport.
Together with the east-west axis roads, the Ca Mau – Dat Mui Expressway will serve as a pillar for the development of the marine economy, harnessing the potential and strengths of the southernmost region of the country, and ensuring national defense and security.
In reality, the need for development, especially in promoting the potential of the National Ca Mau Cape Tourism Area, calls for the construction of an expressway that will reduce travel time by almost a third compared to the current narrow and congested National Highway 1 and Ho Chi Minh Road.
Thai Ha
