Proposal of nearly 9,300 billion VND to upgrade 3 national highways in the Mekong Delta

(NLDO) - The Ministry of Transport submitted to the Government for approval the investment project policy for 3 national highways (QL53, QL62 and QL91B) connecting the Mekong Delta region.

Highway 91B is proposed to upgrade the section Km 2+604 (Can Tho bridge intersection) - Km 143+480 with an investment length of about 141 km.

The Ministry of Transport has just submitted to the Government for approval the investment project policy for 3 national highways (QL53, QL62 and QL91B) to connect regions and adapt to climate change in the Mekong Delta region.

Accordingly, for National Highway 53, the Ministry of Transport proposed upgrading the Nga Tu Bridge, Long Ho - Ba Si section, including building a new bypass of Vung Liem and Cang Long towns, approximately 17.3 km long. The investment length is approximately 41 km, passing through the two provinces of Vinh Long and Tra Vinh.

This national highway has been invested in and renovated to meet the standards of a grade III plain road, with a 12 m wide roadbed, 11 m wide road surface and a design speed of 80 km/h.

For National Highway 62, the starting point is expected to be at the intersection with Ho Chi Minh City - Trung Luong Expressway. The end point is expected to be at Km 74+000, including a new route to avoid Tan Thanh town, about 8 km long. The investment length is about 69 km in Long An province. The route is upgraded and renovated to meet the standards of a grade III plain road, with a design speed of 80 km/hour.

The Ministry of Transport has proposed to upgrade the National Highway 91B section from Km 2+604 (Can Tho Bridge 5-way intersection) to Km 143+480 with an investment length of about 141 km, in Can Tho City and the provinces of Hau Giang, Soc Trang and Bac Lieu. The route is upgraded and renovated to meet the standards of a grade III plain road, with a design speed of 80 km/hour.

According to the Ministry of Transport, the total preliminary investment for the above projects is about VND9,297 billion, equivalent to about USD385 million. Of which, the World Bank (WB) loan of about USD262 million is used for items such as construction costs, pre-tax equipment; construction supervision consulting costs; and contingency costs for the above items.

Counterpart capital of about VND 2,975 billion is used for items such as project management costs, construction investment consultancy, other costs; site clearance costs and taxes and fees.

According to the Ministry of Transport, compared to the project proposal approved in Decision No. 646 dated June 7, 2023 of the Prime Minister, the pre-feasibility study report basically maintains the scope, scale, and route as the approved project proposal, but the preliminary total investment increased by about VND 2,139 billion. The reason is due to an increase in construction costs of more than VND 956 billion; an increase in site clearance costs of VND 840 billion.

The Ministry of Transport said the project investment aims to gradually complete the road traffic network connecting the region according to the approved planning scale, contributing to promoting socio-economic development and ensuring national defense and security in the Mekong Delta region.

At the same time, improve the efficiency, traffic safety and climate change adaptation of 3 national highways (QL53, QL62, QL91B) connecting 7 provinces and cities in the Mekong Delta region.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/de-xuat-gan-9300-ti-dong-nang-cap-3-tuyen-quoc-lo-tai-dbscl-196250216081334367.htm