On November 7, Politburo member and Standing Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc led a delegation of central and local officials to inspect construction progress on the Quy Nhon-Pleiku Expressway in Gia Lai Province.
The nearly 125-kilometre expressway will have four lanes and a design speed of 100 kilometres per hour, with total investment of nearly VND 44 trillion (USD 1.7 billion).
The project comprises three components scheduled for implementation between 2025 and 2029.
According to the Gia Lai Provincial People's Committee, the expressway will provide a direct link between the Central Highlands and the coast, connecting seaports with manufacturing, industrial and service centres.
The route is expected to attract investment, expand development opportunities and help Gia Lai make better use of its economic potential.
The province reported that investment procedures for components one and three had been completed, allowing construction to begin about three months ahead of the government's schedule.
For component two, more than 95 per cent of the required land had been handed over, with the remainder expected to be cleared and transferred to contractors by November 15.
Land clearance across the entire route has also been reported as completed, providing favourable conditions for contractors to mobilise workers and equipment and accelerate construction.
During the inspection, Deputy PM Tuc praised Gia Lai authorities, investors, contractors and relevant agencies for their efforts, particularly in land clearance and completing investment and construction procedures.
Highlighting the expressway's strategic importance to Gia Lai and the Central Highlands, he urged local authorities and contractors to mobilise resources, workers and machinery and take advantage of favourable weather to keep construction on schedule.
He stressed that progress must not come at the expense of quality or safety.
Contractors were instructed to closely monitor construction, particularly road foundations, slopes and surrounding terrain, while taking precautions against landslides to ensure long-term safety.
Tuc also urged Gia Lai to secure adequate construction materials, publicly disclose eligible quarry sites and strictly control material quality to prevent substandard supplies from affecting the project.
He called for attention to landscaping along the expressway and connections to Gia Lai's scenic attractions, helping promote tourism, services and regional economic development.
