“Once a Hotspot for Land Fever and Dubbed the ‘Second Da Lat’ of the Central Highlands, This Region is Set to Be Connected by a $1.1 Billion Highway”

The People’s Committee of Quang Ngai Province has submitted a proposal to the Prime Minister regarding the implementation of several key expressway projects, including the Quang Ngai – Kon Tum Expressway (CT.42), the Kon Tum – Ngoc Hoi segment, and the Ngoc Hoi – Bo Y segment.

Notably, the proposal includes a request to adjust the investment model for the Quang Ngai – Kon Tum section (Quang Ngai – Mang Den) from public investment to a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, specifically a Build-Transfer (BT) contract.

According to the proposal, the Quang Ngai – Mang Den segment spans approximately 82 km with a 4-lane design. The total investment is estimated at VND 25.1 trillion. The proposed funding source is local land funds, with implementation scheduled for 2025–2029.

The Quang Ngai People’s Committee has confirmed that an investor has expressed interest in this project and proposed implementing it under a BT contract, committing to mobilize 100% of the capital without using the state budget. The local government considers this proposal aligned with the Politburo’s directives on private sector development and the Provincial Party Committee’s Resolution for the 2025–2030 term.

“The Provincial Party Standing Committee agrees with the plan to execute the Quang Ngai – Mang Den segment under the PPP model with a BT contract, to be reported to the Prime Minister for approval,” the proposal states.

Additionally, Quang Ngai Province requests the Prime Minister to designate the locality as the managing authority for the Mang Den – Dak Ha segment of the CT.42 expressway. This segment, funded by public investment, is approximately 54 km long with a total investment of VND 18.9 trillion, scheduled for implementation from 2026–2030.

Beyond the CT.42 expressway, Quang Ngai Province also proposes conducting a feasibility study for the Kon Tum – Ngoc Hoi – Bo Y expressway, comprising: the Dak Ha – Ngoc Hoi segment (39.4 km) as part of the Western North-South Expressway (CT.02); and the Ngoc Hoi – Bo Y segment (approximately 18 km) as part of the Da Nang – Thanh My – Ngoc Hoi – Bo Y Expressway (CT.21).

The preliminary total investment for this project is approximately VND 25 trillion, with a 4–6 lane design. Implementation is planned for 2030–2035. If resources permit, the province will seek approval to expedite the project to 2026–2030. For this project, the locality will handle land clearance funding, while the central government will support construction costs.

According to the Provincial People’s Committee, these expressway projects will enhance regional connectivity, particularly along the Central Coastal – Mang Den – Kon Tum axis, promote the development of the Mang Den tourist area, and connect Mang Den with major tourism routes such as Ly Son – Dung Quat – Mang Den – Pleiku.

The new expressways will also contribute to completing the East-West connectivity network, integrating with the North-South Expressway, and enhancing the national expressway network. This will improve connectivity between the Central Highlands and the Central Coastal region.