Groundbreaking ceremony for Van Don-Mong Cai Expressway is held on April 3
Van Don-Mong Cai Expressway is one of three key traffic projects that Quang Ninh authorities have started this year. It is hoped that Van Don-Mong Cai Expressway, which connects Hanoi to the border city Mong Cai, will not only help open more opportunities to Quang Ninh and nearby provinces but also strengthen links between Vietnam with China and other ASEAN countries.
The expressway will be 80 kilometres long and run through five districts and cities including Van Don, Tien Yen, Dam Ha, Hai Ha and Mong Cai. It is designed to have four lanes with a speed limit of 100km/h. The total cost is estimated to be nearly VND11.2trn (USD484m). The expressway will start near Van Don International Airport and end at Bac Luan 2 Bridge.
The project is a public-private-partnership and build-operate-transfer arrangement invested by Sun Group. Ground clearance has basically been completed and the project expected to be completed in 22 months. It is estimated that Quang Ninh authorities have to spend VND1.5trn (USD65m) on ground clearance.
The project was supposed to be started last year but met several difficulties with loans. The provincial authorities have quickly assigned employees to help the contractors to start the project as soon as possible.
At the ground-breaking ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung praised Quang Ninh authorities for their quick action in calling for funds from the private sector and determination to improve the local infrastructure. The investor will operate the expressway for 20 years.