HCMC – The prime minister has asked ministries, sectors, and local authorities to finalize land clearance for the Chau Doc–Can Tho–Soc Trang Expressway by March 2025 and ensure its completion by June 2026.
PM Pham Minh Chinh chaired an online meeting on March 18 with officials from An Giang, Hau Giang, Soc Trang, and Can Tho to review the project’s progress, the Government news site reported.
The first phase of the expressway spans 188.2 kilometers and needs a total investment of VND44.7 trillion. It is divided into four sub-projects.
According to the Ministry of Construction, 99% of land clearance has been completed, with a few remaining obstacles, including a rest area in Can Tho, two households in Soc Trang, and 15 high-voltage power pole locations.
Construction progress varies across the four sub-projects. The first sub-project has reached 46% of the contract value, while the second has reached 25%, falling 15% behind schedule. The third has reached 35%, meeting expectations, while the fourth has reached 25%, lagging 8% behind schedule.
Local authorities have licensed the extraction of 22.6 million cubic meters out of the 29 million cubic meters required. However, the current extraction capacity is only 24,000 cubic meters per day, far lower than the required 97,000 cubic meters per day.
With the Mekong Delta region targeting 1,200 kilometers of expressway by 2030, the PM urged stronger efforts to address delays and accelerate construction to meet the mid-2026 deadline. He directed that land clearance be completed by March 2025 and instructed Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN) to relocate high-voltage power poles without delay.
Regarding construction materials, the PM assigned relevant ministries to work with local authorities under the direction of Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha to resolve material supply issues and ensure contractors do not face shortages.
