“The South-Central Expressways: Racing to a 2023 Finish”

Deputy Minister of Construction Nguyen Viet Hung informed that these four expressway projects, with a total length of 231.27 km and an investment of VND 50,000 billion, are facing certain challenges and obstacles despite the efforts of investors and contractors.

The Quang Ngai – Hoai Nhon section, spanning 88 km, currently has nine issues, including four hotspots in Quang Ngai Province due to compensation complaints that have hindered construction and delayed progress by 9.63%. The Hoai Nhon – Quy Nhon project is delayed due to land conversion procedures, while the Quy Nhon – Chi Thanh project faces delays with multiple contractors and packages.

Regarding the four hotspots in the Quang Ngai – Hoai Nhon project, Mr. Tran Phuoc Hien, Vice Chairman of the Quang Ngai Provincial People’s Committee, shared that while the province has handed over the site, citizens have continuously caused obstructions, demanding additional benefits. The province had previously deployed forces to protect the construction, but due to limited personnel, citizens continued to interrupt the work. Recently, the province directed the Director of the Provincial Police to mobilize additional forces to ensure uninterrupted construction and maintain project progress.

Representatives from Deo Ca Group, the contractor for the Quang Ngai – Hoai Nhon expressway, committed that if the site issues are resolved promptly, they can complete the road and bridge items by the end of September 2025. The third tunnel, the longest tunnel on the entire route, is expected to be finished by the end of December 2025.

During the working session, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh and leaders of the Ministry of Construction requested explanations and commitments from the Management Board of Project 85 and the investors of the two projects, Hoai Nhon – Quy Nhon and Quy Nhon – Chi Thanh, to address the delays caused by some contractors and items.

Additionally, they emphasized the need to closely monitor contractors with slow progress and weak capacity to promptly adjust volumes or make replacements.

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh noted that seven tasks assigned by Inspection Team No.1 in mid-March 2025 remain unfinished, including one overdue task related to site clearance for the Quang Ngai – Hoai Nhon project, which is the responsibility of Quang Ngai Province. He urged the province to resolve site clearance issues by June 2025 and emphasized the importance of seeking consensus and support from the people for this and other key transportation projects in the future.

According to Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh, the 231 km of expressways across the four projects in the South Central region will be completed by December 31, with most sections expected to be inaugurated on August 19 and put into use in September 2025. He instructed the investors and contractors to focus on progress while ensuring quality, safety, and technical standards to achieve the highest efficiency and contribute to the country’s overall development.