Central Quang Nam province to upgrade key traffic projects hinh anh 1A section of National Road No 14E in Quang Nam province. The Ministry of Transport plans to upgrade and expand the road in 2018-2020. (Photo courtesy Quang Nam Portal)

Quang Nam (VNS/VNA)
- The Ministry of Transport has approved a project to upgrade National Highway No 14E in the central province of Quang Nam with total investment of 1.4 trillion VND (61.6 million USD) in 2018-2020.

Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Dinh Van Thu said the province has asked the ministry to upgrade the sub-standard highway to improve transport connectivity of the coastal road system and the Da Nang-Quang Ngai Expressway as well as mountainous areas.

Thu said the 90km-long road, which connects the nearly completed Da Nang-Quang Ngai Expressway, National Highway No 1, the Ho Chi Minh Trail and large areas in mountainous districts, has deteriorated as it was designed for rural traffic with one lane in 2002.

According to the ministry, the road will be expanded into two lanes and upgraded to standards matching national roads.

The province plans to upgrade 15 key road projects with total investment of 232 billion VND (9.9 million USD), of which nearly 9 million USD will be funded by the World Bank, in the 2018-2020 period.

The ministry also approved eight flyover bridges in flood-affected areas in Quang Nam province in 2017.

Last year, the province, in cooperation with Truong Hai company, commenced construction of a railway flyover at one of the busiest crossroads on National Highway No 1A, in Nui Thanh district, and a road linking Chu Lai port to Da Nang-Quang Ngai Expressway with total investment of 26.5 million USD.

The central province will also benefit from the operation of the 140km Da Nang-Quang Ngai Expressway project next month as a 65km section of the expressway runs through an area of Quang Nam.

The expressway will help reduce travel time from Da Nang, through Quang Nam and Quang Ngai, from three hours to 90 minutes.-VNS/VNA
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