HCMC – The Ministry of Construction has approved a plan to study widening the Hanoi–Bac Giang expressway to eight lanes under a public-private partnership (PPP), as traffic congestion on the route intensifies.
The ministry has agreed in principle for the investor to research an expansion in line with the approved transport plan, reported the Vietnam News Agency.
The ministry noted that the project could be implemented in phases, with an initial expansion to six lanes. The study would also cover the expansion or construction of underpasses, as well as investment in parallel roads, service roads, and local access roads. Local authorities would be responsible for funding the parallel road upgrades.
Two investment options are under review. The first would expand the section from the National Highway 31 interchange to the end of the route, spanning about 45.2 km, including nearly 7 km in Hanoi and around 38.2 km in Bac Ninh Province.
The second option would cover a shorter section, from the National Highway 31 interchange to the Hanoi–Thai Nguyen expressway interchange, with a total length of about 39.5 km. This includes around 1.27 km in Hanoi and 38.2 km in Bac Ninh.
The Ministry of Construction has proposed that Bac Ninh Province serve as the competent authority for the project and submit a formal request to take over this role. Once assigned, the province would decide on toll collection arrangements in line with regulations.
The Hanoi–Bac Giang expressway has been in operation since April 2016 and has a toll collection period of 21 years.
The 46-km-long expressway was built to expressway standards with four lanes, a roadbed width of 33–34 meters, and a design speed of 100 km per hour.
