HCMC – The Ministry of Transport has written to the ministries of Planning-Investment and Finance proposing upgrading five national highways connecting with Laos, at a total cost of over VND8.5 trillion, or US$369 million.
Of the total investment, over VND6.7 trillion will be sourced from the World Bank loan, while the remaining VND1.8 trillion will be backed by the country’s reciprocal capital, the local media reported.
According to the ministry’s proposal, National Highways 279, 217, 12C, 12A and 15D will be upgraded to improve transport capacity, facilitate traffic and shorten the distance between border gates and seaports, helping reduce logistics and transport costs, minimize traffic accidents and boost bilateral trade with Laos and Thailand.
The ministry proposed upgrading a 38-kilometer-long section of National Highway 279 stretching from the Tay Trang border gate to Dien Bien City in Dien Bien Province so that it can allow vehicles to travel at a maximum speed of 80 kilometers per hour.
Besides, a 59-kilometer-long section of National Highway 217 in Thanh Hoa Province will be upgraded with a designed speed of 80 kilometers an hour.
Similarly, the sections of the three other national highways in Ha Tinh, Quang Binh and Quang Tri provinces will be repaired and upgraded to have a designed speed of 60-80 kilometers an hour.
The five road upgrade projects, with a total length of some 245 kilometers, with be executed in five years from 2024 to 2028, according to the proposal.
