STRATEGIC CONNECTION
The Cao Lanh - An Huu Expressway is one of the key projects located in the Hong Ngu - Tra Vinh connecting axis, playing the role of the traffic "backbone" of the North Tien River region, Mekong Delta.
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| Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh inspects the actual construction progress of the Cao Lanh - An Huu expressway. |
When completed, the route will create a close connection between existing and under-construction highways such as: My An - Cao Lanh, Cao Lanh - Lo Te, Trung Luong - My Thuan - Can Tho - Ca Mau, thereby creating a complete vertical - horizontal traffic system, significantly shortening travel time between Dong Thap province and Ho Chi Minh City, international seaports and major economic and service centers in the South.
Not only does it “extend the roads”, this expressway also contributes to expanding the development space for the Dong Thap Muoi region - which was once considered a “lowland” of transport infrastructure and investment.
Localities such as Cao Lanh, Thanh Binh, Tam Nong, Tan Hong, and Thap Muoi (formerly) will benefit directly from the new trade flow. Goods, especially agricultural products, will be transported faster, at lower costs, reducing congestion and damage caused by waiting for consumption.
According to Deputy Director of Dong Thap Provincial Project Management Board Le Nguyen Phu Truong, Component 1 of the Cao Lanh - An Huu Expressway has achieved more than 65% of the workload and is expected to be technically open to traffic by the end of 2025.
“This is a great effort by the contractor and the Project Management Board in the face of unfavorable weather conditions and limited material resources,” said Mr. Le Nguyen Phu Truong. At the same time, the progress of Component 2 is also being accelerated, with more than 42% of the volume completed. According to the Commander of Truong Son Construction Corporation, Do Manh Hung, the contractors have proactively used crushed stone instead of sand for loading, reducing dependence on sand sources and speeding up the construction progress of the roadbed.
With the goal of technical traffic opening by the end of April 2026, the Cao Lanh - An Huu Expressway will be a strategic "piece" in the Mekong Delta region's traffic planning, helping Dong Thap transform into an important transit point between sub-regions.
"LEVERAGE" TO BRING AGRICULTURE AND INDUSTRY FAR AHEAD
The story of infrastructure development cannot be separated from development thinking. The Cao Lanh - An Huu Expressway opens up great opportunities, but to turn opportunities into achievements, Dong Thap needs a synchronization of both physical and “soft” infrastructure - that is thinking and mechanism.
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| Workers of Component Project 2 - Cao Lanh - An Huu Expressway Project construct the continuous girder and superstructure of Rach Ruong Bridge in Thanh Hung Commune. |
First of all, as one of the country's key agricultural provinces, Dong Thap is facing a golden opportunity to restructure the agricultural sector. The launch of the expressway will be a "lever" to help agricultural products "get to market faster" and reach consumers in the freshest and most competitive condition. Mr. Tran Phu Hau, a farmer in My Tho commune, shared: "During the mango or rice harvest seasons, National Highway 30 is often congested, causing transportation costs to increase and goods to be easily damaged. With the expressway, our people will suffer less, and businesses will also be more favorable."
Good infrastructure is a necessary condition, but the sufficient condition for sustainable development is still the proactive and flexible thinking of the government and the dynamism of enterprises. Dong Thap is clearly demonstrating that spirit through administrative procedure reform, promoting a favorable investment environment, developing industrial zones and clusters associated with local advantages, especially agricultural processing industry and supporting industry.
The completion of the highway will attract a wave of businesses to Dong Thap, especially processing and logistics businesses, investing in preservation technology and supply chains. When goods circulate quickly, freight costs will decrease, increasing competitiveness, thereby encouraging farmers to produce more systematically, to better standards and share higher added value with businesses.
In addition, the province also needs to promote the spirit of “open mechanism”, which means not only seizing opportunities, but also proactively designing breakthrough policies. Preferential policies on tax, land, support for human resource training, along with an effective public-private partnership (PPP) model will be the foundation for Dong Thap to strongly attract non-budgetary investment capital.
Not only in terms of economy, the expressway also paves the way for a new urban appearance. Satellite towns, residential areas, and service stops will be formed along the route, creating new “development poles”, accelerating the urbanization process associated with synchronous infrastructure development. This is an opportunity for Dong Thap to build a more dynamic and sustainable development ecosystem in the medium and long term.
On July 21, during an inspection of the Cao Lanh - An Huu Expressway Project, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh gave strong instructions, requiring the opening of Component 1 of the Project on December 19, 2025 and Component 2 on April 30, 2026. In particular, the Prime Minister requested the investment to complete 4 lanes from the beginning, without any phases, demonstrating the determination to synchronize regional infrastructure. This is a big "push" in terms of direction, adding motivation to the province, contractors, investors and people.
It can be seen that the Cao Lanh - An Huu Expressway Project is one of the key traffic projects that has received special attention and close monitoring from the leaders of Dong Thap province over the past time. Since the project officially started, Dong Thap province has mobilized the strong participation of the entire political system from the province to the localities to accompany the construction units to overcome each difficult stage when the project was implemented.
During the inspection trips to the actual construction progress of the Cao Lanh - An Huu Expressway Project, Chairman of Dong Thap Provincial People's Committee Tran Tri Quang always affirmed: "The Cao Lanh - An Huu Expressway Project is not only a simple traffic project, but also a vital artery for the development of Dong Thap. This is a symbol of the province's aspiration to rise up, connecting Dong Thap with major economic centers, expanding development space and optimizing the value chain of key agricultural products."
Therefore, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee always encourages and requires relevant units and contractors to proactively and resolutely speed up the construction progress according to the plan. In particular, it is necessary to focus on creative solutions to shorten the project completion time.
The "crossing the fields" highway is not only a material symbol, but also a spiritual symbol of a Dong Thap that is proactively integrating and confidently reaching out. When the road is clear - the thinking is clear - the mechanism is clear, the highway will not only be a route for goods, but also a route for capital, technology, intelligence and opportunities to Dong Thap. This route is the most concrete expression of the development mindset of "infrastructure comes first - economy follows - life improves".
MY LY
Source: https://baoapbac.vn/kinh-te/202508/cao-toc-bang-dong-dong-luc-phat-trien-moi-cua-dong-thap-1047670/
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