Ministry of Construction responds to proposal to invest in national highways through Ben Tre

The Ministry of Construction has just sent a document to the National Assembly Delegation of Ben Tre province in response to the province's voters' petition regarding investment in bridges on National Highway 57B to meet transportation needs and ensure traffic safety.

According to the Ministry of Construction, according to the plan, National Highway 57B is 87 km long, with a scale of 2-4 lanes, and a road surface of 6-8m. On the route, there is still a position across Ham Luong River (Tan Phu ferry) where a bridge has not been built.

Ben Tre voters petition the Ministry of Construction to build Tan Phu bridge to replace Tan Phu ferry (Km2+299 - Km3+279) on National Highway 57B (illustrative photo).

Recently, the Ministry of Construction has directed the Vietnam Road Administration to invest in an emergency repair project to prevent erosion of An Hoa bridge piers with a budget of about 7 billion VND; currently under construction, to be completed in the first quarter of 2025.

The Ministry of Construction agrees with the proposal of Ben Tre province voters on the necessity of researching and establishing an investment project to build Tan Phu bridge to replace Tan Phu ferry and An Hoa 2 bridge on National Highway 57B, meeting the expected increase in transportation demand when Phu Thuan industrial park comes into operation, developing the economy of Ben Tre province in particular and the Mekong Delta region in general.

The Ministry will coordinate with the People's Committee of Ben Tre province to review and implement procedures for handing over national highways that will be decentralized to the provincial People's Committee, including National Highway 57B.

Therefore, it is recommended that the locality prioritize balancing and allocating investment capital for bridges on National Highway 57B as proposed by voters.

The Ministry of Construction will coordinate with localities to report to competent authorities for consideration and investment in upgrading and expanding the route in the 2026 - 2030 period.

The Ministry of Construction has proposed that Ben Tre province continue to study investment in upgrading, expanding and constructing 4 sections of National Highway 60 under the PPP form (illustrative photo).

Regarding the proposal to invest in projects on National Highway 60, according to the Ministry of Construction, the road network planning for the period 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2050 approved by the Prime Minister, National Highway 60 has its starting point in My Tho city, Tien Giang province, its end point intersects with National Highway 61B in Nga Nam town, Soc Trang province, about 147km long, with a scale of 2 - 6 lanes.

In recent years, the Ministry of Construction has completed investment in many projects on National Highway 60 in Ben Tre province such as Rach Mieu Bridge, Ham Luong Bridge, Co Chien Bridge, upgrading sections from Rach Mieu Bridge to Co Chien Bridge and is currently investing in the construction of Rach Mieu 2 Bridge to meet transportation needs.

In the period up to 2030, the Ministry of Construction determined to continue focusing resources to complete investment in Dai Ngai bridge and sections in Tra Vinh and Soc Trang provinces according to approved planning.

After completing the above projects, connecting the entire route will shorten travel time, reduce freight transport costs, expand trade and reduce the distance by up to 80km compared to National Highway 1 when traveling from Ca Mau, Soc Trang, Bac Lieu to Ho Chi Minh City.

The Ministry of Construction has noted the comments on considering investment in expanding Ham Luong Bridge and will coordinate with the People's Committee of Ben Tre province to report to competent authorities for consideration and allocation of capital for construction investment when there are conditions on resources and the demand for transportation on the route increases.

Regarding the upgrading of sections 2, 3, 4 of the investment project to upgrade, expand and construct 4 sections on National Highway 60, it is recommended that the province continue to study investment under the PPP form; in case it is not feasible, after the project's toll collection period expires (after 2027), the Ministry of Construction will coordinate with the People's Committee of Ben Tre province to mobilize capital sources to invest in expanding National Highway 60.

"The People's Committee of Ben Tre province is requested to proactively review and prioritize investment projects to synthesize and propose to competent authorities to consider investment in the project in the medium-term public investment plan for the period 2026 - 2030," the Ministry of Construction emphasized.

Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/bo-xay-dung-phan-hoi-kien-nghi-dau-tu-cac-tuyen-quoc-lo-qua-ben-tre-1922503261840474.htm