Can Tho (VNA) – Travel between Can Tho city and the southernmost province of Ca Mau will take only about 1 hour 30 minutes instead of nearly three hours, as an expressway linking the two localities officially opens for technical operation along its entire length on December 19.
Stretching more than 110 km with a total investment of over 27.5 trillion VND (1.04 billion USD), the project not only resolves long-standing traffic bottlenecks in the Mekong Delta, but also opens up new development opportunities for the entire region – especially Ca Mau, the last locality in the country to be directly connected to the eastern North – South expressway axis.
The four-lane expressway, with a continuous emergency lane system, consists of two component sections: Can Tho – Hau Giang and Hau Giang – Ca Mau, managed by the My Thuan Project Management Board. Once in full operation, it will complete the North – South Expressway corridor from Cao Bang to Ca Mau, ensuring seamless national connectivity.
According to Tran Van Thi, Director of the My Thuan Project Management Board, the expressway was built in nearly three years, facing unprecedented challenges. At peak periods, more than 1,500 machinery items and over 3,000 engineers and workers were mobilised, working continuously, including weekends and holidays, to keep progress on track.
A notable feature of the project is the pilot use of marine sand for roadbed filling. With support from ministries, agencies, and scientific institutions, more than 1 million cubic metres of sea sand were utilised, helping address severe material shortages and marking a significant technological milestone for Vietnam’s transport infrastructure sector.
The completion of this expressway meets the expectations of over 18 million people in the Mekong Delta, particularly residents of Ca Mau, Thi shared.
On December 19, the project will inaugurate the Can Tho – Hau Giang section and technically open the Hau Giang – Ca Mau section, enabling full-route travel.
Beyond easing transportation, the expressway is expected to drive regional growth, reduce logistics costs, improve connectivity, attract investment, and help transform Ca Mau into a new economic growth pole at the southernmost tip of Vietnam./.
VNA
