Efforts to connect Ho Chi Minh trail

Accelerate the final stages of implementation

Five months since the groundbreaking ceremony, the XL1 package of the Ho Chi Minh Road project, Chon Thanh - Duc Hoa section, has not stopped the sound of machinery participating in the construction of all items simultaneously. "Our goal is to finish 4 months ahead of schedule (November 2025)," said a representative of Deo Ca Group.

The overpass and intersection with National Highway 22 through Tay Ninh province are part of the Ho Chi Minh Road project, Chon Thanh - Duc Hoa section.

Undertaking the construction of more than 31km of road in the project, Deo Ca Group has mobilized nearly 150 personnel, more than 70 pieces of equipment, and deployed 10 construction teams. In addition to 3/6 bridges on the route being implemented, the contractor is also focusing on accelerating the construction of roadbeds, intersections, and weak soil treatment. To date, the roadbed embankment item has reached more than 34%, and the asphalt concrete item will be implemented from June 2024.

Starting construction in September 2023, the Ho Chi Minh Road project, Hoa Lien - Tuy Loan section, is also in the acceleration phase to reach the finish line in 2025.

According to the representative of the Ho Chi Minh Road Project Management Board, by mid-April 2024, the locality had only handed over about 2.5/11.5km of expressway and 1/20km of feeder road. However, within the available land area, contractors have urgently deployed 12 construction projects, with output reaching about 5% of the contract value.

As for the Rach Soi - Ben Nhat and Go Quao - Vinh Thuan projects, which were just started in early March 2024, the Ho Chi Minh Road Project Management Board is actively coordinating with the locality to carry out site clearance and urge contractors to complete construction preparations.

Urgent completion of forest conversion

After a long period of difficulties in procedures for converting forest use purposes, thanks to the drastic direction of the Government, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and two localities (Thai Nguyen and Tuyen Quang), the investment preparation work for the Cho Chu - Trung Son Intersection project has been completed to start construction on April 30, 2024.

The Ho Chi Minh Road project started in 2000 and has so far completed 2,488/2,744km, reaching more than 90%, and about 258km of branch routes.

Currently, 4 projects are being implemented and the 87.5km Co Tiet - Cho Ben section has completed pre-feasibility study and submitted to competent authorities for approval.

According to the plan, by 2025, Ho Chi Minh Road will be basically connected on the basis of using National Highway 32 and National Highway 21. The progress of project investment basically meets the requirements of Resolution No. 63/2022/QH15 dated June 16, 2022 of the National Assembly.

The leader of the Ho Chi Minh Road Project Management Board said that according to regulations, in order for the investment policy to be approved, the policy of changing the purpose of forest use must be approved. This involves many procedures, involving many competent authorities, so the implementation process takes a long time (usually 1-2 years).

Immediately after the project was approved for investment (December 2023), the Ho Chi Minh Road Project Management Board promptly submitted to the Ministry of Transport a plan to select contractors, deploy the selection of consulting contractors and necessary work. With the current progress, the goal of completing the project by 2025 is completely feasible.

The Co Tiet - Cho Ben section, one of the five component projects that play an important role in connecting Ho Chi Minh Road, is completing its pre-feasibility study report to submit to the Ministry of Transport for consideration and approval.

Step by step formation of the Western expressway axis

According to Mr. Nguyen Vu Quy, Director of the Ho Chi Minh Road Project Management Board, the Ho Chi Minh Road, when connected, will not only help reduce the load on National Highway 1 but also create an important premise for investment in the construction of the Western North-South Expressway.

Delegates performed the groundbreaking ceremony for the Ho Chi Minh Road construction investment project, Rach Soi - Ben Nhat, Go Quao - Vinh Thuan sections on March 6.

Mr. Quy said that the approved road network planning has determined that some sections of the Ho Chi Minh Road will be located on the Western North-South Expressway. Some sections overlap with the Eastern North-South Expressway. The National Assembly's Resolutions on the investment policy for the project also clearly state that sections of the Ho Chi Minh Road will be upgraded to expressway standards.

"Using the sections that have been invested in at the stage of opening two lanes to invest in large-scale expressways will save capital and shorten investment time because the sections have been marked with road boundaries," Mr. Quy explained, adding that from now until 2025, 287km of Ho Chi Minh Road according to expressway standards will be completed, coinciding with the Eastern North-South Expressway.

The sections include: Vinh - Bai Vot 20km long; Bai Vot - Ham Nghi (Ha Tinh) 36km long, Ham Nghi - Vung Ang (Ha Tinh) 54km long, Vung Ang (Ha Tinh) - Bung (Quang Binh) 58km long, Bung - Cam Lo (Quang Binh) 119km long.

For the western North-South expressway, the Government is directing the investment implementation of some expressway sections such as: Tuyen Quang - Phu Tho, Lo Te - Rach Soi... has completed investment preparation work to submit to competent authorities for consideration and approval of investment policy for the Co Tiet - Cho Ben section; is preparing investment for some sections in the Central Highlands region such as: Gia Nghia (Dak Nong) - Chon Thanh (Binh Phuoc), Chon Thanh (Binh Phuoc) - Tan Van (HCMC)...

According to Mr. Quy, based on demand, investment efficiency and the ability to balance resources in each period, the remaining sections of Ho Chi Minh Highway according to expressway standards will be included in the investment plan with a suitable roadmap.

"The investment review is recommended by the Board based on several main principles such as: Prioritizing the implementation of sections with high transportation demand and planned allocated resources. In particular, priority is given to investing in sections that overlap the belts of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City; Sections located on dynamic axes, have inter-regional connectivity impacts, and great spillover effects," Mr. Quy informed.

Priority should be given to the route through the Central Highlands.

According to Mr. Nguyen Hong Son, former Director of Project Management Board 2, the study of opening the western expressway is very necessary. With the expressway, the large land fund in the west will be of interest.

With the western expressway coinciding with Ho Chi Minh Road, in the immediate future, competent authorities need to prioritize investment and upgrading to expressway standards the sections passing through the Central Highlands (through Kon Tum, Gia Lai, Dak Lak, Dak Nong, Binh Phuoc) because currently, the region has only one major road axis, Ho Chi Minh Road.

In the Northern region, priority is given to the study of investment in expanding the Ho Chi Minh road from Hanoi to Quang Binh, especially the section from Doan Hung (Phu Tho) through Ngoc Thap bridge - Trung Ha bridge - Son Tay - Mieu Mon - Ben Market. In particular, the section from Son Tay to Mieu Mon coincides with the planning of Hanoi's Ring Road 5. Early completion of this section will relieve most of the pressure on Hanoi's traffic.

N.Khanh (written)

Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/no-luc-noi-thong-duong-ho-chi-minh-192240428145716519.htm