New highways to cut Mekong Delta–HCM City travel time

The most important segment of the Mekong Delta highway system, the My Thuan – Can Tho highway, will kick off by the end of the year.
The most important segment of the Mekong Delta highway system, the MyThuan – Can Tho highway, will kick off by the end of the year.

The highway in the delta will link the region with Ho Chi Minh City and the southern key economic region.

"Thepre-feasibility report for the 24-km My Thuan – Can Tho highway will besubmitted to the Ministry of Transport and the Prime Minister thismonth," Duong Tuan Minh, general director of the Cuu Long Corporationfor Investment, Development and Project Management of Infrastructure(CIDP) was quoted as saying in Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper.

Thoughthe Ministry of Transport approved the project years ago, it did notstart because of a lack of capital and poor financial planning.

"An effective financing plan is the most important factor in attracting investors," Minh added.

Theproject has been adjusted from four lanes and 27.5 metres wide at acost of 12 trillion VND (564 million USD) to two lanes and 13.75 metreswide at 6 trillion VND (282 million USD).

The Cuu Long CIDP hasalso suggested that the Government spend State funds for groundclearance compensation for the next construction phase, which includesfour lanes and expenditures to support investors.

The project is planned to be built in the fourth quarter this year and will be completed by 2018.

TheMinistry of Transport's No 7 Project Management Unit is also setting upa construction project for My Thuan No 2 bridge, which will allowtravel on the Trung Luong - My Thuan highway.

The management unit plans to open the bridge in 2018, along with the Trung Luong – My Thuan highway.

"Itmeans that by 2018, along with the 51.5-km Trung Luong – My Thuanhighway, which was built in this February, My Thuan – Can Tho highwaywill help cut travel time from HCM City to Can Tho to 1 hour and 45minutes instead of the current four hours," Minh said.

In addition, in the fourth quarter, the 55-km Lo Te – Rach Soi (from Can Tho to Kien Giang) will start construction.

"The Republic of Korea Government has agreed to sponsor 200 millionUSD for the project. Another 94 million USD will be provided by theVietnamese Government," Minh said.

In the first stage, two lanes will be built but later it will be expanded to a highway.

By 2017, the road will connect with Vam Cong bridge, which links Dong Thap and Can Tho provinces, and Cao Lanh bridge.

When completed, these projects will create the second key road system along with the current National Road No 1.-VNA

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