Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai has agreed to add three more projects to the list of key transport projects, given their significance for socio-economic development.

The three projects are: the Deo Ca Pass Tunnel (including sub-projects), the Tan Vu – Lach Huyen Highway and upgrading of the Cho Gao Canal.

Nguyen Hoang, Director of the Planning and Investment Department of the Transport Ministry, told Vietnam News that the projects' inclusion in the list will require all agencies concerned to step up efforts to ensure that they are completed on time.

The four-lane Deo Ca Pass Tunnel on National Highway 1, connecting Phu Yen province and Khanh Hoa province in the central region, will have a total length of 13.4km.

The project combines several components including the Deo Ca tunnel itself (3.9km), the Co Ma tunnel (0.5km) and approach roads and bridges (totaling 9km).

The project is slated for completion in late 2016 or early 2017.

The tunnel will shorten the travel distance between either side of the Deo Ca Pass by half and the travel time by one-fourth, project documents say.

The project to build the 15.6km Tan Vu-Lach Huyen Highway in the northern port city of Hai Phong was launched last February. It will run from Cat Hai Island to Hai Phong City through the Dinh Vu peninsula, and connect the Lach Huyen Port with the Hanoi – Hai Phong Expressway as well as Highway 5.

The project to upgrade the Cho Gao Cannal in the Mekong Delta by dredging and embanking will run for 28.68km, starting at the Vam Co River convergence and ending at the Tien River convergence.

The 2.263 trillion VND (105 million USD) project aims to facilitate rising traffic on the two major rivers.-VNA