Transport Ministry proposes upgrading five highways linking with Laos
The Ministry of Transport has recommended to the ministries of Planning and Investment, and Finance five projects to upgrade the national highways connecting with Laos.
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| National Highway 217 will be upgraded to traveling speeds of 60-80km per hour. (Photo: tapchixaydung.vn) |
The projects will be financed by a loan from the World Bank (WB) of more than 8.5 trillion VND (369 million USD).
The projects aim to improve travelling capacity, strengthen the connection of the East-West corridor, and accelerate trade with Laos and the northeast region of Thailand.
The project of upgrading 38.6km of National Highway No. 279 starting from Dien Bien Phu city in the northern border passing Tay Trang Border Gate to milestone No. 113 of Dien Bien district of Dien Bien province will have a total investment of 1.5 trillion VND (64.8 million USD).
The road will be upgraded so vehicles may travel at speeds of 60-80km per hour.
The section of National Highway 12C passing Vung Ang-Ho Chi Minh Trail in the central provinces of Ha Tinh and Quang Binh will need an investment of more than 2 trillion VND (85.4 million USD) with a total length of 89.3km for speeds of 60-80km per hour.
The project of upgrading 59km of National Highway 217 in the central province of Thanh Hoa will be worth 2.15 trillion VND (91.8 million USD) while the renovation of 38km of National Highway 12A in Quang Binh and 20km of National Highway 1 and Cam Lo-La Son Expressway in Quang Tri province will cost 1.43 trillion VND (61.1 million USD) and 1.38 trillion VND (59.2 million USD), respectively.
According to the ministry, within the total investment of 369 million USD, 292 million USD will be used for construction, equipment, technical design consultancy, construction design consultancy and construction supervision consulting.
Nearly 77 million USD will be spent on project management, construction investment consulting, site clearance, taxes, fees and other expenses.
The project implementation time is set by the Ministry of Transport from 2024 to 2028 after the funding agreement comes into effect.
Currently, the ministry is further working with the WB to seek more non-refundable aid to increase incentive value and feasibility.
According to the ministry, the renovation and upgrading of the national highways aims to improve navigation capacity, transportation needs, shorten the distance between border gates and seaports, which helps reduce transport costs, environmental pollution and traffic accidents as well as serve the socio-economic development of the areas.
(Source: VNA)
