HCMC – The Ministry of Transport has approved a VND9.3-trillion project to improve three national highways in the Mekong Delta as part of efforts to boost connectivity in the region.
The project, proposed by the Department for Roads of Vietnam, targets upgrading National Highways 53, 62, and 91B, which are crucial for the road and bridge network in the Mekong Delta.
Funded by the World Bank, the project aims to modernize the highways to better cope with climate change in the Mekong Delta region.
The upgrades cover sections of National Highway 53 spanning from Cau Nga Tu to Long Ho-Ba Si, with a total length of 41 kilometers across Vinh Long and Tra Vinh provinces.
A 69-kilometer stretch of National Highway 62, from its intersection with the HCMC-Trung Luong Expressway to Km74 in Long An Province, will be improved. This includes the construction of a new eight-kilometer bypass.
Similarly, National Highway 91B is slated for upgrade from its intersection at Can Tho Bridge to a section spanning 141 kilometers across Can Tho City, Hau Giang, Soc Trang, and Bac Lieu provinces.
The project aims to elevate these roads to a Class III standard for plain areas, with a maximum speed of 80 km per hour and a road width of 12 meters, accommodating two lanes for automobiles and two lanes for other vehicles.
The Department for Roads of Vietnam estimated the total investment for the project at around VND9.3 trillion, with the World Bank providing nearly VND6.25 trillion toward construction costs, equipment, consultancy, and other pre-tax expenses. The remainder will be sourced domestically for project management, investment consultancy, land clearance, and contingencies.
Construction is scheduled to start in the fourth quarter of this year, following the finalization of the funding agreement, with completion expected within five years.
