Determined to complete the expressway network

REPORTER: How does the Deputy Minister evaluate the progress of the 12 component projects of the North-South Expressway in the East passing through the provinces of Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, Khanh Hoa and the Mekong Delta provinces?

Deputy Minister of Construction Nguyen Danh Huy

* Deputy Minister NGUYEN DANH HUY : Up to now, the difficulties and obstacles of the North-South Expressway's Eastern component projects have been resolved, and the implementation progress is closely following the set plan. In addition to the 4 projects whose progress has been shortened to be ready for exploitation on the occasion of April 30 (the last 70km of Van Phong - Nha Trang; Bai Vot - Ham Nghi; Ham Nghi - Vung Ang; Bung - Van Ninh), there are 4 component projects (Vung Ang - Bung; Van Ninh - Cam Lo; Hoai Nhon - Quy Nhon; Quy Nhon - Chi Thanh) that will be open to traffic by the end of September.

As for the two component projects Can Tho - Hau Giang and Hau Giang - Ca Mau, due to passing through weak ground areas, long waiting time for subsidence, and many difficulties in supplying materials, the progress is slower than planned. Those of us who work in practice really hope to receive sharing of these objective challenges. The Ministry of Construction is resolutely directing investors and contractors to use technical solutions to shorten the waiting time for subsidence, and organize construction to complete by the end of this year.

Recently, the two biggest obstacles to the progress of transport projects have been site clearance and embankment materials. Could you please tell us what the role of localities is in this matter?

* In the implementation of transport projects up to now, site clearance and material sources are the main bottlenecks. Recognizing this problem, right from the project preparation stage, the Ministry of Transport (now the Ministry of Construction) reported and advised the Government and the National Assembly to issue resolutions allowing the application of specific mechanisms in site clearance, licensing, and material exploitation. Thanks to that, site clearance has been basically resolved, and material supplies have been arranged sufficiently, contributing to speeding up the progress of projects.

In that process, localities play a key and direct role. There are many difficulties and obstacles, but with the close and drastic direction of the State Steering Committee for important national and key projects, especially the participation of the entire political system at all levels of the locality, the problems have been resolved and the targets of the projects have been met on schedule.

In fact, there have been highway projects that have deteriorated immediately after being put into operation. So, how is the quality control of these projects?

* First of all, I would like to affirm that our consistent guiding principle for all projects is “quality is vital, do not trade quality for progress”. Right from the start of the projects, the Ministry of Construction has required investors to improve their management capacity, effectiveness and efficiency of construction investment management, especially quality management. Investors are also responsible for checking and urging construction contractors to comply with the design requirements and technical instructions of the project.

For design consultants, the Ministry of Construction requires improving the quality of survey and design work, especially the completeness and accuracy of topographic, geological and hydrological survey data and having appropriate design solutions. For supervision consultants, the Ministry of Construction requires closely checking and supervising the construction quality, especially the quality and origin of materials. For construction contractors, the Ministry of Construction requires the site commander and the contractor's personnel to meet the requirements on capacity conditions. In addition, investors must strictly carry out the work of project acceptance.

The Van Phong - Nha Trang Expressway (Khanh Hoa province) was put into operation from 6:00 a.m. on April 20. Photo: HIEU GIANG

Along with the connection of the entire North-South Expressway and Ho Chi Minh Road in 2025, how will the construction industry continue to invest in completing the expressway network in the coming period?

* The goal of having over 5,000km of expressways nationwide by 2030 was set in the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress. To date, the country has over 2,000km of expressways, with over 1,800km under construction (of which over 1,000km will be completed by the end of 2025 to achieve the goal of over 3,000km), and capital has been allocated to deploy over 500km. Thus, the research and preparation for investment and putting into operation about 700km in the 2026-2030 period will contribute to completing the set target of 5,000km.

The early completion of the expressway network development plan will help ensure the formation of a key transport framework according to the plan, contributing to inter-regional connectivity and promoting the country's socio-economic development in the new period.

The Ministry of Construction has just proposed that the Government approve the policy of allocating VND6,500 billion from the state budget to participate in the investment project to expand the Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh Expressway (equivalent to 40% of the total investment). At the same time, the Ministry also proposed to assign the Vietnam Expressway Corporation as the managing agency, responsible for mobilizing the remaining capital of VND9,814 billion (accounting for about 60% of the total investment) to implement the project.

According to sggp.org.vn

Source: https://baoapbac.vn/phong-van-doi-thoai/202504/quyet-tam-hoan-chinh-mang-luoi-duong-bo-cao-toc-1040356/