Cho Moi - Bac Kan Expressway: A "New Lifeline" for the Northeast Region

The BBK - Cho Moi - Bac Kan route is not simply a transportation project; it is a "new lifeline," opening up opportunities to change development thinking and transform Bac Kan from a purely agricultural province into a center of green industry, ecotourism, and smart services in the Northeast region.

The Cho Moi - Bac Kan expressway is designed with 4 lanes.

From infrastructure bottlenecks…

Located in the mountainous Northeast region, Bac Kan province borders Thai Nguyen province and serves as a gateway connecting to Hanoi and the Northern Midlands. However, for many years, underdeveloped transportation infrastructure has been the biggest bottleneck hindering its growth rate. Bac Kan is a province with "three lacks" in terms of strategic infrastructure: no airport, no railway, and to this day, no expressway.

National Highway 3, a vital transportation artery connecting Bac Kan with Thai Nguyen and Hanoi, was built during the French colonial period. Despite numerous renovations, its scale and operational capacity remain limited. The road winds through many residential areas and rugged mountainous terrain, making expansion difficult. Traffic congestion, accidents, and difficulties for heavy vehicles occur frequently, significantly impacting regional connectivity, economic development, and investment attraction.

...leading to new motivations and strategies.

In the context of limited transportation infrastructure, the implementation of the 28.8 km Cho Moi – Bac Kan expressway, with a total investment of over 5,750 billion VND, has opened up great expectations for Bac Kan. This road will directly connect with the Hanoi – Thai Nguyen expressway, forming a continuous expressway axis from the capital to the northern border, completing the national transport axis CT07 and expanding the trade corridor with China through border gates such as Ta Lung and Tra Linh.

More than just a transportation project, the expressway is a strategic driving force for the socio-economic development of the province. According to the plan until 2030, Bac Kan aims to develop many industrial zones and clusters in Bac Kan City, Cho Moi, and Bach Thong. However, transportation limitations have made attracting investment difficult. Once the expressway is completed, it will solve the connectivity problem, reduce logistics costs, and create favorable conditions for large-scale production.

The province is also planning logistics centers in Bac Kan City and Cho Moi, gradually forming a modern industrial and service ecosystem connected to the expressway, making Bac Kan a goods transshipment point in the Northeast region.

Furthermore, the expressway will provide a boost to the tourism industry. Bac Kan has many famous attractions such as Ba Be Lake, Ba Be National Park, cave systems, waterfalls, traditional villages, etc., but it has not attracted many tourists due to infrastructure limitations. When completed, the expressway will shorten travel time from Hanoi to about 2.5 hours, opening up opportunities for investment in sustainable tourism and creating livelihoods for local people.

Furthermore, the route also contributes to narrowing the regional gap, helping people access better healthcare and education services, while ensuring national defense and security in emergency situations.

Comrade Dinh Quang Tuyen, Standing Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Bac Kan province, inspected the site for land clearance work for the Cho Moi - Bac Kan expressway project.

Towards a sustainable future

According to the development orientation in the Bac Kan Provincial Planning for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, the Cho Moi - Bac Kan expressway is the southern driving force, connecting the urban-industrial area of ​​Bac Kan City and Bach Thong with the Cho Moi growth pole bordering Thai Nguyen. Along this corridor, processing industries, construction materials manufacturing, logistics centers, satellite cities, and smart services will develop strongly.

Comrade Dinh Quang Tuyen, Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee and Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, assessed: The Cho Moi - Bac Kan expressway not only solves traffic problems but also helps the province overcome the paradox of development – ​​rich in resources but not yet strongly developed economically. Completed transportation infrastructure will create opportunities for sustainable exploitation of forest resources, medicinal plants, ecotourism, green economic development, and reduced dependence on raw resources. The province is coordinating with the investor to accelerate progress, striving to open the expressway by 2026.

Phuong Thao

Source: https://baobackan.vn/cao-toc-cho-moi-bac-kan-mach-song-moi-cua-vung-dong-bac-post70533.html