HCMC – The Ministry of Construction has proposed expanding several sections of the North–South Expressway between Hanoi and HCMC to six lanes, at a total cost of over VND152.1 trillion.
Minister of Construction Tran Hong Minh has submitted a report to the prime minister on a study to expand the eastern North–South Expressway in the 2017–2020 and 2021–2025 phases to full-scale design standards, according to the Government news site.
The proposal includes widening a 1,144-kilometer stretch between Hanoi and HCMC.
Meanwhile, the My Thuan–Can Tho–Ca Mau sections will be excluded from the current phase due to low traffic volumes, difficult construction conditions, and shortages of building materials. These sections will be developed separately at a later stage.
Expanding the North–South Expressway to six lanes during the 2021–2025 phase would exceed the approved investment limit, requiring the National Assembly (NA) to adjust its policy as the project is of national importance.
The Ministry of Construction has recommended that the Government seek the NA’s approval to extend the project’s scope and apply special mechanisms to accelerate progress. These include directly awarding contracts to previously involved contractors, waiving procedures for construction material mining permits, and allowing simultaneous implementation of project planning, design, cost estimation, and bidding.
A tentative timeline has been proposed: the investment policy would be reported to the Politburo in April, submitted to the NA in May, and adjusted in June. Component projects would be approved in September, with technical design and cost estimates finalized by November, and construction starting in the fourth quarter.
According to the master plan, the North–South Expressway will have a total length of around 2,055 kilometers, stretching from Huu Nghi Border Gate in Lang Son to Ca Mau City, with a planned width of 6-12 lanes.
At present, 1,206 kilometers of the expressway are operational, while 834 kilometers are under construction and scheduled for completion by 2025, excluding the 43-kilometer Huu Nghi–Chi Lang section.
During the 2017–2020 and 2021–2025 phases, 1,163 kilometers of the expressway were built with a basic four-lane design, 99 kilometers have a fully completed four-lane structure, and 113 kilometers are being widened to four or six lanes.
