Proposed Enhancements for North-South Expressway Segments to Handle Increased Traffic Flow

Rewritten Article:

Hey there! Let's talk about the buzz going on with the Vũng Áng-Bùng segment of the North-South Expressway in Hà Nội.

Talk's been all about expanding certain sections of this bad boy to accommodate future traffic growth, given the urgent need for a robust nationwide road system.

As per a study from Project Management Board 6 under the Ministry of Construction (MoC), the eastern section of the North-South Expressway stretches from Hữu Nghị Border Gate (in the northern province of Lạng Sơn) to the southern city of Cà Mau, covering approximately 2,063km, or 22% of the national expressway network. So far, 1,206km have been opened to traffic, while 834km are under construction.

Currently, 1,163km of the expressway have been or are being built with a limited four-lane design (roadbed width is 17m); 99km are in operation with a complete four-lane design; and 113km are being upgraded to four to six lanes.

Back in 2017-2020, the Government proposed investing in approximately 654km of high-demand segments using the limited four-lane model with intermittent hard shoulders. Expanding these sections to a full four-lane design would've required an estimated VNĐ86.1 trillion (US$3.3 billion) in Government funding, which was a bit steep since it surpassed the available budget by about VNĐ55 trillion ($2.1 billion).

However, in 2021, the National Assembly (NA) approved investment policy in the remaining sections with the same limited four-lane design. Keeping up with the changing socio-economic development goals, the Project Management Board 6 noted that growing transport demands and sufficient resources have fueled the need to revisit expansion plans for this crucial transport corridor of the country.

Eighteen component projects are proposed for expansion, including: Mai Sơn-National Highway 45, National Highway 45-Nghi Sơn, Nghi Sơn-Diẽiën Châu, Diëindicesing Châu-Bãi Vọt, Nha Trang-Cam Lâm, Cam Lâm-Vĩnh Hȁo, Vĩnh Hȁo-Phan Thiết, Phan Thiết-Dầu Giây, Bãi Vọt-Hàm Nghi, Hàm Nghi-Vũng Áng, Vũng Áng-Bùng, Bùng-Vạn Ninh, Vạn Ninh-Cam Lộ, Quảng Ngãi-Hoài Nhȍn, Hoài Nhȍn-Quy Nhȍn, Quy Nhȍn-Chí Thạnh, Chí Thạnh-Vân Phong and Vân Phong-Nha Trang.

To speed up construction, ensure feasibility, and operation schedule, and make the most of resources from ongoing projects, the board recommends using public investment for these expansions. The expansions would enhance traffic capacity and safety, as many current sections were built with limited configurations, leading to several challenges in managing traffic. Moreover, it would increase the maximum speed allowed from 90km/h to 120km/h.

The MoC shared that Việt Nam currently has over 2,000km of expressways in total, with over 1,800km under construction. Of these, more than 1,000km are expected to be completed by 2025, reaching the target of over 3,000km. Another 500km already has funding allocated for construction. This means that only around 700km needs to be built and launched between 2026-2030 to meet the national goal of 5,000km.

Ongoing projects in construction can also benefit from lower costs by using existing equipment, workforce, infrastructure, and material sources.

For effective project implementation, the board proposed that the MoC prioritize 18 segments of the North-South Expressway's eastern section between Hà Nội and HCM City, covering about 1,144km with an estimated investment of VNĐ152.14 trillion ($5.9 billion).

Segments not yet proposed for expansion, such as the 149-km-long Mỹ Thuận-Cần Thơ-Cà Mau due to lower traffic demand, difficult construction conditions, and material shortages are recommended for upgrades in later projects. - VNS

Ongoing construction at the Vũng Áng-Bùng segment of the North-South Expressway. - VNA/VNS Photo Quốc Khánh

The Vũng Áng-Bùng segment of the North-South Expressway in Hà Nội is at the center of discussions concerning expansion to cope with future traffic growth, emphasizing the necessity of a strong nationwide road system.
The eastern portion of the North-South Expressway, spanning from Hừu Nghị Border Gate to Cà Mau, encompasses approximately 2,063km, which accounts for 22% of the national expressway network.
In the new policy approved by the National Assembly (NA), the investment in the remaining sections of the expressway adheres to a limited four-lane design, similar to the model proposed by the Government in 2017-2020.
The Project Management Board 6, under the Ministry of Construction (MoC), notes that growing transport demands and sufficient resources necessitate reconsideration of expansion plans for this critical transportation corridor of the country.
The MoC also mentioned that over 2,000km of expressways exist in Việt Nam, with more than 1,800km under construction, aiming to reach a target of over 3,000km by 2025.
To expedite the construction, ensure feasibility, and optimize resources from ongoing projects, the board recommends employing public investment for the expansions, focusing on 18 segments in the North-South Expressway's eastern section.
The Government faces the challenge of investing in an estimated VNĐ152.14 trillion ($5.9 billion) for these expansions, contributing to increasing traffic capacity, safety, and maximum speed allowed on the expressway.

Vietnam boasts a current extensive network of expressways, measuring over 2,000 kilometers, with approximately 1,800 kilometers still under construction. The plan is to complete more than 1,000 kilometers of these roads by 2025, thereby achieving the goal of over 3,000 kilometers of expressways.

Proposed Enhancements for North-South Expressway Segments to Handle Increased Traffic Flow