HCMC – Obstacles in site clearance and short supply of building materials let alone a hike in the prices of building materials have slowed down the progress of several North-South Expressway subprojects.
According to the Government’s report on the current condition of some sections of the expressway sent to the National Assembly, work on eight expressway subprojects has started. The value of the completed workload has been VND8.9 trillion, over a quarter of its total value.
As for the progress of the subprojects, the Cao Bo-Mai Son section is some 88% complete and is expected for completion this year. A smart traffic system on this section will be set up next year.
Meanwhile, the Cam Lo-La Son section is 61% complete, 8% slower than expected due to storms in the central region last year, the Covid-19 pandemic and the lack of materials for the XL5, XL6 and XL11 packages. In addition, the XL8 package has faced slow site clearance.
The sites for some packages of the section have yet to be handed over, including sites for 100 meters of road in Quang Tri Province and 50 meters in Thua Thien Hue Province. As a result, the subproject may not be completed until next year.
Moreover, some contractors have failed to mobilize human resources, finance and equipment to execute the incomplete workload. As many as 17 contractors have been issued warnings, seven others have been reprimanded, while another contractor has been asked to replace a site manager.
The Government has asked the Ministry of Transport to review the progress of all North-South Expressway subprojects and work out solutions over the slow progress, such as asking workers to work overtime and supplementing workers and equipment.
Regarding the My Thuan 2 Bridge as a component of the expressway project, the completed workload has reached 62.7%, exceeding the plan by 3.43%. The project was to be completed in December 2023.
Further, the Mai Son-National Highway 45, Vinh Hao-Phan Thiet and Phan Thiet-Dau Giay subprojects are some 26.1%, 14.32% and 14.97% complete. Their progress is being ensured and they are expected to be completed in December next year.
As for the National Highway 45-Nghi Son and Nghi Son-Dien Chau subprojects, contractors have prepared machines and equipment and are producing the designs for the subprojects. They are 0.1% and 0.4% complete, respectively, and scheduled to be completed in December 2023.
According to the Government, the site clearance and electricity and telecom infrastructure dismantlement and relocation have encountered multiple bottlenecks, although the prime minister has repeatedly urged localities, the Vietnam Electricity Group, the Vietnam Post and Telecommunications Group and Viettel to complete the job. Specifically, the site for about 10.46 kilometers of the expressway has yet to be handed over, accounting for 1.6% of the total length of the expressway.
To ensure the progress of the North-South Expressway project, the Government proposed the National Assembly ask the delegations of National Assembly deputies of localities where the expressway will pass through to help with promptly removing the obstacles to site clearance and coming up with solutions to ensure the supply of building materials and the stability of prices.
Additionally, laborers of subprojects should be vaccinated against Covid-19 on priority.
