The Sand Shortage Conundrum: Insights from the Director of Transportation on the Progress of Ho Chi Minh City’s Ring Road 3.

Ring Road 3 – Ho Chi Minh City is a key national project with a total length of 76.3 km, spanning four localities: Ho Chi Minh City (47.35 km), Dong Nai (11.26 km), Binh Duong (10.76 km), and Long An (6.81 km). Recently, challenges with sourcing fill sand have impacted the progress of several construction packages and threaten to delay the overall project timeline.

Reporters from Tien Phong newspaper interviewed Mr. Luong Minh Phuc, Director of the Project Management Unit for Transport Construction Works in Ho Chi Minh City (referred to as the Transport Unit), to gain insights into the implementation of this critical project.

Sir, what is the current progress of the Ring Road 3 project, specifically the section passing through Ho Chi Minh City?

Mr. Luong Minh Phuc: The Ring Road 3 project, in the section passing through Ho Chi Minh City, comprises 14 construction packages (including 10 main construction packages and 4 operation and exploitation service packages). The specific status of these packages is as follows:

Four main construction packages (XL3, XL6, XL8, and XL9) commenced in July 2023. Contractors are accelerating the construction of bridges and tunnels along the route, expediting work on the road foundation in sections treating soft soil by excavating and replacing it with tram piles, cement-reinforced soil piles (CDM), and wick drains (PVD). The output achieved so far reaches 22% of the construction value.

The remaining six main construction packages (XL1, XL2, XL4, XL5, XL7, and XL10) were launched in February 2024. Contractors are focusing on expediting the progress of substructure construction along the route and simultaneously implementing soft soil treatment measures. The output achieved so far reaches 9% of the construction value.

The four operation and exploitation service packages (XL11, XL12, XL13, and XL14) are undergoing design and cost estimate appraisal, with construction expected to commence by the end of 2024, synchronizing with the completion of the ten main construction packages.

How has the issue of sourcing fill sand been addressed?

Mr. Luong Minh Phuc: Following the Prime Minister’s directive at the 12th meeting of the Steering Committee and the close supervision of Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha during sessions with the southern provinces, the challenges and obstacles regarding the extraction of fill sand for the project have been fundamentally resolved.

Currently, the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, the Material Working Group, and the investor are actively coordinating and working with local authorities (the People’s Committees of Tien Giang, Vinh Long, and Ben Tre provinces) to finalize the licensing procedures for mines serving the Ring Road 3 project in Ho Chi Minh City, in accordance with the set timeline.

In Tien Giang province, three mines (batch 1) will complete the licensing procedure by the end of August 2024. For the mines in batch 2, the licensing procedure will be finalized by the end of September 2024. The total supply volume is 6.6 million cubic meters, with 3 million cubic meters expected to be supplied to the project in 2024.

In Vinh Long province, all procedures will be completed, and sand will be provided to the project by the end of August 2024. Specifically, one mine will complete the procedure and supply sand to the project before August 25, 2024. The remaining five mines will finalize the procedures and supply sand to the project in early September 2024, with a total supply volume of 1.4 million cubic meters. Of this, 700,000 cubic meters are expected to be supplied to the Ring Road 3 project in 2024.

In Ben Tre province, all procedures will be completed, and sand will be provided to the project by December 2024, with a total supply volume of 2 million cubic meters. Of this, 1 million cubic meters are expected to be supplied to the project in 2024.

Thus, it can be said that the licensing progress and committed volume from these three localities (Tien Giang, Vinh Long, and Ben Tre) meet the project’s construction needs and timeline for the Ring Road 3 project in Ho Chi Minh City. The Transport Unit will continue to coordinate closely with central ministries and branches, departments, units, and localities to ensure the completion of the Ring Road 3 project section in Ho Chi Minh City as scheduled.

With the resolute efforts of the Government, central ministries and branches, and localities, do you think the project will be completed on time?

Mr. Luong Minh Phuc: Currently, the investor, contractors, and supervisors are striving to maintain the project’s completion schedule as stated in the resolutions of the National Assembly and the Government.

Specifically, certain components of Package XL1 will be completed to ensure the synchronous operation and effective connection of Nhon Trach Bridge (under Component Project 1A) with the Ho Chi Minh City – Long Thanh – Dau Giay Expressway by April 30, 2025. The technical opening of the entire expressway section is expected by the end of January 2026, with the official opening on April 30, 2026. The entire project, including the parallel road, is expected to be completed by June 30, 2026.

Thank you, sir!