Ministry of Transport will consider investment proposal to upgrade National Highway 40B

Many sections of National Highway 40B connecting Quang Nam and Kon Tum provinces are severely damaged and must be regularly repaired and patched.

The Ministry of Transport has just responded to the petition of voters in Quang Nam province about prioritizing funding to upgrade National Highway 40B, 139km long through the province.

Accordingly, the Ministry of Transport agrees with the proposal of voters of Quang Nam province on the necessity of investing in the section of National Highway 40B connecting Bac Tra My district, Nam Tra My district (Quang Nam province) with Tu Ma Rong district (Kon Tum province) about 45km long, currently reaching level V mountainous area, 2 lanes, to meet transportation needs, support socio-economic development, ensure national defense and security of the region. However, due to difficulties in resources, it is not possible to allocate capital to invest in this section, in the period of 2021 - 2025.

Taking note of voters' recommendations, the Ministry of Transport said that in the process of developing a medium-term public investment plan for the 2026-2030 period, based on the ability to balance resources and the principles of capital allocation according to regulations, this agency will consider reporting to the competent authority to invest in this route.

In the immediate future, the Ministry of Transport has assigned the Vietnam Road Administration to strengthen inspection and maintenance of National Highway 40B to ensure safety and convenience for vehicles participating in traffic.

National Highway 40B plays an important role in connecting the East-West economic corridor, promoting socio-economic development in Quang Nam and Kon Tum regions.

Currently, the section from Km35+305 to Km53+554 of National Highway 40B (from Tien Phuoc district to Bac Tra My district) has been handed over by the Department of Transport of Quang Nam province to the Provincial Traffic Construction Investment Project Management Board (investor) to implement the Central Region Connectivity Project of Quang Nam province from October 30, 10. This section is both in operation and under construction, so traffic is affected.

Meanwhile, the section from Km1+770 to Km14+200, National Highway 40B (from the beginning of the route to the end of the intersection with the expressway) Da Nang - Quang Ngai) There are still 14 road surface locations that have not been completed synchronously according to the scale of the Project to Upgrade and Expand the Road Connecting National Highway 1 to the Da Nang - Quang Ngai Expressway and the coastal road of Quang Nam province (belonging to the National Highway 40B section) due to Ministry of Transportation as investor. The reason is the problem in compensation and site clearance.

Particularly, the section Km106+700 – Km141+080, National Highway 40B (from Nam Tra My district to the border of Kon Tum province) is 34,4km long, after a long period of exploitation and the impact of natural disasters, has begun to degrade and be severely damaged.

Using maintenance funds, the Department of Transport of Quang Nam province has implemented asphalt concrete repair of severely damaged road sections. In 2024 alone, it is implementing repairs of severely damaged road sections from Km106+700 – Km112+600, National Highway 40B with a total length of 3,3km.

This project was implemented by Khanh Anh Investment and Construction Joint Stock Company and started on July 18, 7, but by the end of August 2024, the road surface had not been repaired. Although the Department of Transport of Quang Nam province had repeatedly urged, the construction progress was very slow.

The provincial Department of Transport said it is continuing to urge the project to be completed before the 2024 rainy season and in 2025 will carry out investment preparation work to continue repairing severely damaged road sections on National Highway 40B with a total length of 6,5km.