CAN THO — The Mekong Delta region is expected to have 554 kilometers of expressway in service by 2026, out of 1,256 kilometers planned under the nation’s road development strategy.
According to the Ministry of Construction, the completed sections will be part of seven expressways designated for the region in the national road network master plan for 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050.
At present, around 201 kilometers of four-lane expressway have been put into operation. Six more expressway projects are under construction and are scheduled to be completed by 2026, reported the local media.
The remaining sections of the Mekong Delta expressway network are slated for construction during the 2026-2030 period and beyond 2030.
The ministry has also proposed expanding existing expressways based on phased investment plans. It has called on the National Assembly to approve the expansion and modernization of expressways under public-private partnership (PPP) models and to issue new national technical standards for expressway development.
Plans are also underway to widen several roads from two to four lanes and from four to six lanes. For new projects, the ministry aims to prioritize full four-lane expressways. Where phased investment is applied, the ministry stressed the importance of carefully studying design and operational efficiency to ensure smooth traffic flow and higher travel speeds, targeting a design speed of up to 90 kilometers per hour for staged sections.
In addition, the ministry is accelerating the development of roadside service infrastructure such as rest areas and gas stations, especially along the eastern North-South Expressway sections running through the Mekong Delta, to improve convenience and safety for road users.
