Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha: Sand resources must be prioritized for Can Tho Expressway

On November 20, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha inspected the construction work at two expressway projects being implemented in the Mekong Delta region.

These are the Can Tho – Ca Mau expressway project (Can Tho – Ca Mau expressway) and Chau Doc – Can Tho – Soc Trang expressway phase 1.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha inspected the construction work at the IC4 intersection of the Can Tho-Ca Mau expressway through Hau Giang province.

After inspecting the field and listening to reports from the units, the Deputy Prime Minister assessed that the biggest difficulty currently facing both projects is still the source of sand for filling.

“During the project construction process, there are bound to be difficulties. Whatever difficulties and problems arise, we will discuss and resolve them,” he said. The Deputy Prime Minister acknowledged the strong determination of local leaders, with all resources focused on the key project, and “this is a very favorable issue.”

Emphasizing that the Can Tho-Ca Mau expressway must be completed in 2025, the Deputy Prime Minister requested the Ministry of Transport and investors to focus on sand sources for the project, prioritizing sand coordination from the Chau Doc-Can Tho-Soc Trang expressway to the Can Tho-Ca Mau expressway.

Can Tho - Ca Mau Expressway has achieved more than 50% of construction output.

Regarding sand resources, the Deputy Prime Minister said that sea sand is a long-term solution. However, currently, the capacity of sea sand exploitation in Soc Trang is about 50% behind schedule. The reason is that it can only be exploited 15 days/month. Therefore, units must develop detailed exploitation plans suitable for weather conditions.

In addition, it is necessary to calculate the plan to mobilize suction barges and large-capacity transport vehicles, if necessary, hire them from abroad. At the same time, increase the capacity of sand mining and bring sand to the construction site to ensure the overall progress of the project.

"We have to calculate, if there are any problems that we have tried our best to solve but cannot be changed, we have to consider science and technology and alternative solutions," the Deputy Prime Minister noted.

The Deputy Prime Minister also requested that during the construction and sand exploitation process, units must ensure clear flow to avoid affecting people's lives and production.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha noted: the construction process must ensure that it does not affect people's lives and production.

The Can Tho – Ca Mau Expressway is over 110km long and has 117 bridges on the main route. Reporting to the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. Le Duc Tuan, Deputy Director of the My Thuan Project Management Board, said that localities have handed over 100% of the land, with about 200m (landfill) of the connecting route in Can Tho city still stuck. It is expected that the relocation will be completed in December 2024.

Regarding the project progress, the construction output to date has reached more than 50% of the plan. Of which, the main route has completed 36% of the load-bearing construction; the surface of 41 bridges has been completed. It is expected that the main route and the remaining bridges will be completed by the end of 2024.

To date, the localities of An Giang, Dong Thap, and Vinh Long have granted the project a total of 20 river sand mines, with a total reserve of 19 million m3. However, An Giang province has temporarily suspended the exploitation of 7 mines, due to exploitation exceeding the design depth, poor quality, and the risk of riverbank erosion.

Currently, My Thuan Project Management Board is actively working with An Giang province to soon put the two mines that have overcome the existing problems back into operation.

Component project 3 reached 26% progress.

Regarding component project 3 of the Chau Doc – Can Tho – Soc Trang expressway project, Mr. Mai Van Tan, Director of the Department of Transport of Hau Giang province (investor) said that the project through the locality is more than 36km long with 3 intersections and 24 bridges on the main route.

In recent times, Hau Giang has directed contractors to focus on implementing the construction vigorously. However, due to the scarcity of sand, the current construction output is about 26%. Contractors have only placed the girders of 5 bridges, the remaining bridges are speeding up the construction of piers and piers.

According to the Director of the Department of Transport of Hau Giang province, the total demand for sand for the project is about 6 million m3 of sand. Recently, the project received support from An Giang province with a sand mine with a reserve of about 2.6 million m3. The locality has coordinated to transfer 500,000 m3 to the Can Tho - Ca Mau expressway.

Ben Tre province also committed to supporting the project with 3.4 million m3 of sand. It is expected that 1.5 million m3 will be provided in advance in early December. This will meet the project's needs.

This afternoon, in Soc Trang province, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha had a working session with localities on site clearance and supply of sand, stone, etc. for projects in the southern region.

The Can Tho – Ca Mau Expressway is over 110km long. The total investment is over VND 27,500 billion, started in January 2023, and is expected to be completed in 2025. The project is divided into two component projects: Can Tho – Hau Giang and Hau Giang – Ca Mau. My Thuan Project Management Board is the investor.

The Chau Doc – Can Tho – Soc Trang Expressway Project Phase 1 has a total length of more than 188km, divided into four component projects and assigned to the localities where the project passes through for implementation. These are An Giang, Can Tho, Hau Giang and Soc Trang provinces.
The project has a total investment of 44,691 billion VND. The entire route is expected to be completed and put into use in 2027.

Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/pho-thu-tuong-tran-hong-ha-phai-uu-tien-nguon-cat-cho-cao-toc-can-tho-ca-mau-192241119212751558.htm