Eviction Notice: 225 Households to Make Way for Vietnam’s National Highway Project in Lam Dong, Connecting the Central Highlands to the Southern Economic Hub.

The Bao Loc – Lien Khuong Expressway project, one of the key transport infrastructure projects for both Lam Dong province and the nation, is in its final stages of preparation for its anticipated groundbreaking in July.

With a total length of 73.62 km, the expressway will begin at Km 126+484,93 in Loc Phat ward, Bao Loc city, coinciding with the endpoint of the Tan Phu – Bao Loc Expressway from Dong Nai province, and end at Km 200+100, intersecting with the existing Lien Khuong – Prenn Expressway in Hiep Thanh commune, Duc Trong district. The project carries a massive price tag of VND 17,718 billion (USD 750 million), financed through a public-private partnership (PPP).

According to the Lam Dong Newspaper, the local authorities and relevant agencies are expediting the final investment procedures to ensure the timely commencement of the construction process.

The Management Board for Urban Investment and Construction Projects in Bao Loc city, together with the People’s Committees of Loc Phat ward and Loc Thanh commune, have taken charge of land clearance and compensation matters pertaining to the project’s impact on the city. Specifically, 35.975 hectares of land belonging to 225 households and one organization in Loc Phat ward and Loc Thanh commune will be requisitioned for the expressway’s construction.

At present, the Bao Loc city administration is coordinating with relevant agencies and the local authorities of Loc Phat ward and Loc Thanh commune to finalize land-related information for the requisition process. Subsequently, they will issue land reclamation notices for the expressway project. Concurrently, efforts are being made to determine compensation rates, conduct detailed measurements of the land to be acquired, and inventory assets and structures attached to the land to facilitate fair and transparent compensation and resettlement processes.

Moreover, the city administration and its affiliates are expediting the development of resettlement areas to ensure the well-being of affected citizens once the land reclamation for the project commences.

The Bao Loc – Lien Khuong Expressway is a vital component of the master-planned expressway network connecting Dau Giay to Lien Khuong. As per the Lam Dong provincial government, this expressway will significantly enhance connectivity with the national transportation network, reducing travel time between the Central Highlands and the key economic regions in the South, as well as various economic, social, and industrial hubs along National Highway 20.

Upon completion, the expressway is expected to alleviate the burden on the congested and accident-prone National Highway 20, improving the efficiency of cargo transportation and international trade while fostering investment, tourism, and overall socio-economic development in the region.

In a related development, on June 6, the Lam Dong provincial government officially approved the construction project for the Tan Phu (Dong Nai) – Bao Loc (Lam Dong) Expressway, further bolstering the region’s transportation infrastructure.

This newly approved expressway will span a total length of 65.88 km, commencing at Km 59+798,33 (connecting with the Dau Giay – Tan Phu Expressway in Dong Nai province) and concluding at Km 125+675 (intersecting with Nguyen Van Cu Street in Bao Loc city, Lam Dong province). The expressway is designed as a grade-80 highway, featuring four lanes with a roadbed width of 22 meters in its ultimate phase. During the phased implementation, it will also have four lanes but with a narrower roadbed width of 17 meters.

The projected investment for this project is VND 18,002 billion (approximately USD 765 million) for the phased implementation, comprising VND 6,500 billion (USD 276 million) in government funding and VND 11,502 billion (USD 490 million) from private investors.