HCMC – With a total of 361 kilometers, four under-construction sections of the North-South Expressway will be completed by the end of 2022.
As of August, the four sections had been 66.2% completed by contract value but 2.9% behind schedule, according to the Ministry of Transport.
The contractors have added personnel and equipment to ensure the progress of Mai Son-National Highway 45, Cam Lo-La Son, Vinh Hao-Phan Thiet and Phan Thiet-Dau Giay sections, the local media reported.
Thung Thi Tunnel on the Mai Son-National Highway 45 expressway is around 90% complete, said Truong Cong Dat, the project’s deputy managing director.
The nearby Tam Diep Tunnel project will be completed in early October, according to its contractor, Son Hai Construction Company Limited.
The Cam Lo-La Son expressway project has achieved about 94% of its targeted construction. The route is expected to be ready by the end of October.
However, only 48% of the Vinh Hao-Phan Thiet expressway has been completed, lagging 2% behind schedule.
The delay was caused by a range of factors, including construction materials shortages, the contractors’ capability limitations and unfavorable weather conditions.
The Phan Thiet-Dau Giay expressway is around 60% complete. Similarly, unfavorable weather conditions have partly contributed to the construction delay.
Recently, the southern provinces’ expressway builders have focused on completing tasks less affected by weather conditions, namely precast concrete structures and traffic safety systems.
The relevant agencies have implemented solutions to accelerate the pace of the component projects, particularly with adding subcontractors and replacing the major contractors with competent ones.
The first phase of the North-South Expressway spans 652.9 kilometers. The route is divided into 11 components, three of which are under public-private partnership contracts, while the rest are provided with public investment capital.
The 15.2-kilometer-long Cao Bo-Mai Son Expressway was opened to traffic in early 2022.
