Hanoi (VNA) - The project to expand the Ho Chi Minh City–Long Thanh section of the North-South expressway could see its timeline significantly shortened if it is classified as an urgent construction project and allowed to proceed under special mechanisms.
Since the Ho Chi Minh City–Long Thanh Expressway was opened to traffic, vehicle volume has continuously increased, reaching the full capacity of four lanes. Therefore, expanding this expressway is both necessary and urgent, especially to synchronise with the Long Thanh International Airport.
In a report sent to the Prime Minister seeking approval to implement the expansion as an urgent construction project, Chairman of the Members’ Council of the Vietnam Expressway Corporation (VEC) Truong Viet Dong noted that this is a large-scale project with complex technical and construction conditions. These include 10 km of soft soil treatment requiring a minimum of eight months, and 12 km of bridge construction, while maintaining traffic flow on the operating expressway.
If implemented under standard public investment, construction, and bidding regulations (even with special contractor selection procedures), the project must go through three key steps: approval of investment policy; approval of the investment project; and approval of construction design and cost estimates as a basis for contractor selection.
Under this standard timeline, the project is expected to break ground on January 1, 2025, with basic completion in December 2026. The Long Thanh Bridge would be completed and put into use in June 2027.
Aiming for a symbolic groundbreaking on August 19 to commemorate the 80th anniversary of National Day (September 2), VEC has proposed that the government approve the project under five special mechanisms
Specifically, VEC seeks permission to use a streamlined contractor appointment process; to carry out survey, project development, design, cost estimation, contractor selection, and construction in parallel; and to have site clearance managed as separate sub-projects by Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai Province, with funding allocated by VEC according to local proposals.
Local authorities are asked to prioritise support for identifying and approving temporary dump sites, material storage areas, docks, and sites for temporary asphalt and cement mixing plants. They are also requested to ensure sufficient material supplies during construction.
VEC further proposes that, in cases of force majeure, such as material shortages, clearance issues, natural disasters, or epidemic, the government allow adjustments to the project schedule for affected sections.
If the Prime Minister approves the classification of the project as an urgent construction effort and permits the application of the proposed special mechanisms, VEC expects to benefit from several procedural shortcuts. These include exemption from investment policy approval, immediate launch of feasibility studies (without the need for environmental impact assessments), and concurrent site clearance and contractor selection processes, which together would substantially reduce construction time.
In this scenario, the project is expected to receive final approval in July; construction drawings would be approved in phases starting August 8; contractors selected by August 13; and groundbreaking would take place on August 19, 2025.
According to VEC’s timeline, the section from Ring Road 2 to Ring Road 3 (Km4+000–Km8+844.5) will be widened from four to eight lanes, with construction lasting 13 months and completion slated for September 2026.
The section from Ring Road 3 to the Bien Hoa–Vung Tau Expressway junction (Km8+844.5–Km25+920, excluding the Long Thanh Bridge) will be widened from four to ten lanes, with a 14-month construction period, expected to finish in October 2026.
The Long Thanh Bridge itself is scheduled for 20 months of construction, with the main span joined by December 2026 and remaining works completed by March 2027.
“In short, if the project is implemented as an urgent construction with special supporting mechanisms, the start date could be brought forward by 2.5 months to August 19, 2025, with substantial completion achieved within 2026,” Mr. Dong confirmed./.
