More than 360km of North-South expressway to be completed this year

The Government is determined to complete 361 out of the total 652.86 kilometers of the North-South expressway in 2022 with the highest quality, for which all contractors and localities have committed to the target.

A section of the North-South expressway. Photo: The Hanoi Times

Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh stressed the goal during a recent meeting with contractors of section Mai Son- Highway No.45 under the Eastern North-South expressway project.

The section with a length of 63.37 kilometers is part of four sub-components under the expressway project, which also includes sections Cam Lo – La Son (98.3 kilometers), Vinh Hao – Phan Thiet (100.8 kilometers), and Phan Thiet – Dau Giay (99 kilometers).

“Significantly, the Government does not lose its credibility with the public,” said Thanh, calling for contractors to finish the construction deadline with just eight months left until the end of the year.

According to Thanh, the Eastern North-South expressway project is of national priority, for which an acceleration in construction progress should not undermine the quality of the project.

A report from the Ministry of Transport revealed contractors of the four sub-projects have so far completed 52.35% of the work volume, 2.5% behind the schedule.

“Greater efforts from contractors are required to meet the deadline in 2022,” noted the Ministry.

As of the present, over 1,000 kilometers of the expressway have been built throughout the country. 

The Eastern North-South expressway with an investment capital of US$6.5 billion would be a major step for Vietnam to achieve the target of having at least 4,000 kilometers of expressways in the 2021-2025 period.

With the Eastern North-South expressway, Vietnam would have four major trans-Vietnam highways, including National highway No.1, Ho Chi Minh highway, and coastal highway.