Deputy PM Pushes for Faster Progress on Four Key Northern Expressway Projects

On the morning of August 24, Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son chaired a meeting with the provinces of Tuyen Quang, Cao Bang, and Lang Son on the progress of four expressways: Tuyen Quang – Ha Giang (old Ha Giang section), Tuyen Quang – Ha Giang (Tuyen Quang section), Dong Dang – Tra Linh, and Huu Nghi – Chi Lang.

According to a report by the Ministry of Construction, the above four projects, with a total length of 257.5 km, are of great importance in achieving the goal of completing 3,000 km of expressways by the end of 2025.

So far, the completion rate is approximately 50% for the Tuyen Quang – Ha Giang project, 37% for the Dong Dang – Tra Linh project, and 34% for the Huu Nghi – Chi Lang project. To meet the deadline of opening the routes by the end of 2025, the projects need to increase their production volume by 10-14% per month, doubling or even tripling the current construction pace.

At the meeting, the leaders of Tuyen Quang, Cao Bang, and Lang Son provinces reported that this year, the northern mountainous region has experienced heavy rains, and rising river levels have affected the construction progress of the sub-projects. They committed to completing the projects on schedule, even under unfavorable weather conditions, through various solutions.

Concluding the meeting, the Deputy Prime Minister reaffirmed the government’s unwavering determination to complete key transport projects by 2025. Acknowledging the efforts made by the localities, investors, and contractors, he frankly stated that he was not reassured as the progress of all four projects had not met the set requirements, compared to the inspection in March 2025.

With only four months left and a significant amount of work remaining, the Deputy Prime Minister instructed that issues related to site clearance, relocation of technical infrastructure, and waste disposal sites must be resolved by September 5, 2025.

Specifically, Tuyen Quang province must resolve the relocation of 55 households and provide resettlement land for 9 households; Lang Son province must relocate 79 households and the remaining technical infrastructure for the Huu Nghi – Chi Lang project, and 6 households for the Dong Dang – Tra Linh project.

Contractors are to review their tasks and develop a detailed schedule up to December 31, increasing their workforce, equipment, and machinery by two to three times the current levels and organizing continuous construction, even under unfavorable weather conditions.

The Deputy Prime Minister requested that local Party committees and authorities regularly inspect, urge, and encourage the construction forces on the site. They should promptly address any difficulties and obstacles faced by the construction units, ensuring safety and convenience, especially during the rainy season. Local resources should also be mobilized to support the construction units in transporting machinery, supplies, and materials and in land filling.

The Provincial People’s Committees directed the management boards and investors to regularly inspect and urge consulting supervision units and contractors in the work of managing the quality of the project, not sacrificing quality for progress, especially in complex items such as large bridges, tunnels, and weak ground sections.

The localities were also requested to urgently review and study investment plans for rest stops, traffic monitoring systems, and vehicle weight control stations, ensuring their completion in synchronization with the expressways.

Regarding the adjustment of the projects’ phase 1 and the implementation of phase 2, the Deputy Prime Minister proposed that the localities complete the relevant procedures and implement phase 2 without affecting the overall progress.

Ministries, sectors, agencies, and localities were requested to proactively fulfill their assigned tasks according to the set schedule. If difficulties or obstacles arise, they should promptly report to competent authorities for consideration and decision-making. They were also requested to strengthen inspection and supervision and take measures to prevent corruption, wastefulness, collusion, and bid-rigging.

The Deputy Prime Minister also proposed that the localities, ministries, sectors, project management boards, and contractors recognize the completion of expressway projects as the top political task for the period leading up to the 14th National Party Congress. He emphasized the need to heighten personal and collective responsibility, putting the interests of the nation first, upholding personal and unit honor, and contributing to the country’s socio-economic development and the people’s aspirations for a synchronous and modern expressway system.