The national highway is in serious disrepair.
The East-West Economic Corridor 2 starts from Tien Sa Port (Da Nang City), National Highway (NH) 14B, Ho Chi Minh Highway, NH14D, through Nam Giang International Border Gate to Laos and Northeast Thailand.
Thus, the routes located on this corridor within Quang Nam province include National Highway 14B, Ho Chi Minh Highway, and National Highway 14D. Due to the high volume of traffic on National Highway 14B, especially heavy trucks, combined with the impact of adverse weather conditions, the road surface has suffered extensive and severe damage.
Meanwhile, in Nam Giang district, National Highway 14D is severely damaged, with most of the asphalt surface peeling off, leaving only the crushed stone base. The Quang Nam Infrastructure Management Center (under the Department of Construction) stated that the cause is the sudden and sustained increase in traffic volume. Statistics for the fourth quarter of 2024 show that the traffic volume on the route was 864 vehicles per day and night; a 1.73-fold increase compared to the first quarter (499 vehicles per day and night).
According to Mr. Dang Huu Linh, Director of the Quang Nam Transport Infrastructure Management Center, the demand for goods transportation through the Nam Giang International Border Gate is increasing, and the rise in specialized vehicles is proof of this.
The road network in Laos has been expanded, but the connecting Highway 14D still does not meet transportation needs; accidents and traffic congestion occur frequently. Highway 14B is also overloaded, with a traffic volume of 4,200 vehicles per day (1,572 vehicles on the four-axle highway); a 3.11-fold increase compared to the beginning of 2024.
According to experts, National Highway 14D has many advantages that can attract a large volume of goods and passengers due to the attraction and spread from the Bolaven Plateau and the Northeast region of Thailand, Myanmar, and the Indian Ocean to the seaports in the Quang Nam, Da Nang , and Hue areas.
Transportation along this route will contribute to reducing cross-border transport and trade costs; promote the development of logistics services and investment; and help countries better access mineral and energy resources to serve manufacturing and processing industries.
Furthermore, it facilitates the flow of goods from countries in the Mekong sub-region to penetrate the potentially lucrative markets of South Asia and West Asia.
Promoting investment funding
Currently, many Vietnamese businesses investing in Thailand and Laos have a great need for transporting goods via National Highway 14D to supply raw materials to processing plants in coastal areas before exporting through seaports in Da Nang, Quang Nam, and Quang Ngai.
Furthermore, many businesses in the Central Vietnam Key Economic Zone also need to transport goods produced in Vietnam for consumption in Southern Laos and Northeastern Thailand. Given the importance of National Highway 14D, the early upgrading and expansion of this route will be effective, especially for sea transport from Thailand and Laos to Northeast Asia.
On February 8, 2025, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired a meeting with the Standing Committee of the Quang Nam Provincial Party Committee and issued a conclusion on the policy regarding investment in the two national highways 14D and 14B.
The content of Conclusion Notice No. 40 (notice from the Government Office dated February 12, 2025) clearly states that the Ministry of Finance must urgently report to the Government in February 2025 on the plan for allocating increased revenue and savings from central government budget expenditures in 2024, including investment projects to upgrade and expand National Highways 14D and 14B.
Regarding resource allocation, Mr. Tran Ngoc Thanh, Deputy Director of the Department of Construction, said that on February 26, 2025, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee signed Document No. 1504 gửi to the Ministry of Finance regarding the allocation of increased revenue and savings from the central government budget in 2024 to support projects to upgrade and expand National Highways 14D and 14B through Quang Nam province.
Accordingly, to expedite implementation and strive for completion in 2026 as directed by the Prime Minister, Quang Nam province requests the Ministry of Finance to consider advising the competent authorities to allocate 500 billion VND.
This resource provides the basis for the province to promptly direct the preparation, submission for appraisal, and approval of investment project dossiers and procedures, as well as the next steps of the projects. The remaining capital for project implementation will continue to be balanced within the medium-term public investment plan from the central government budget for the period 2026-2030.
National Highway 14E is currently undergoing renovation and upgrading, making travel difficult and restricting the flow of vehicles carrying ore and other goods from the Nam Giang International Border Gate to Chu Lai Port. According to Mr. Tran Ngoc Thanh, "unblocking" National Highway 14D will not only solve the problem of people's livelihoods but also create opportunities for the development of logistics services. In particular, once the renovation and expansion of National Highway 14E is completed, heavy trucks from the border gate will be able to access the Ho Chi Minh Highway, then down National Highway 14E (at Phuoc Son) to Chu Lai Port, increasing traffic significantly, as the distance is much shorter than going down National Highway 14B and then looping around to Nui Thanh.
Source: https://baoquangnam.vn/cap-thiet-mo-huyet-mach-hanh-lang-kinh-te-dong-tay-3151216.html
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