Breakthrough in transport infrastructure - driving force for development

Implementing the Resolution of the 14th Lai Chau Provincial Party Congress, term 2020 - 2025, with the breakthrough task of building traffic infrastructure...

In recent years, the province's transport infrastructure system has been prioritized for investment in a synchronous, focused and key direction associated with exploiting the potential and strengths of each region.

In particular, the route connecting the provincial center with Noi Bai - Lao Cai expressway is a strategic project, started at the end of 2021 with 5 construction packages, nearly 150km long, expected to be completed in 2025.

The road connecting Lai Chau with Noi Bai - Lao Cai highway through Muong Than commune is being accelerated.

When put into use, the route will connect directly to the national highway network, shortening travel time, reducing transportation costs and expanding trade opportunities with economic centers in the Northwest region as well as the Northern Delta.

The route passing through many residential areas also opens up prospects for developing services, tourism and agricultural goods for people along the route. Muong Than commune alone has 13.87km of road passing through, promising to create a breakthrough for local socio-economic development.

In parallel, Lai Chau is implementing a series of other key projects. The Hoang Lien tunnel project connecting Lai Chau to Sa Pa (Lao Cai province) has been approved for investment and is expected to start construction at the end of 2025. When completed, the Hoang Lien tunnel project will help vehicles shorten about 22km of Hoang Lien pass (O Quy Ho pass) on National Highway 4D. Currently, it takes about 52 minutes for cars to cross the 22km pass, while trucks and container trucks need about 120 minutes to travel this section.

If there is a road tunnel, the travel time of the above vehicles will be only 11 minutes. The project, when completed, will contribute to completing and improving the quality of inter-provincial and inter-regional traffic infrastructure, fundamentally solving the limitations of National Highway 4D. Creating conditions to attract investment, develop tourism, and promote socio-economic development in the Northwest region.

The Hoang Lien road tunnel project is expected to start construction at the end of 2025. Once completed, the project will strengthen traffic connections between Lai Chau and Sa Pa (Lao Cai province). Illustrative photo

In addition, the province is studying the construction of a multi-purpose bridge at the Ma Lu Thang - Kim Thuy Ha border gate (China), to serve trade and develop the border economy when the border gate is upgraded to an international border gate. National and provincial highways such as QL4H, QL4D, DT130, DT132, DT133 are also being renovated, expanded, and the quality of the road surface is improved, ensuring traffic safety and meeting the increasing transportation demand.

According to statistics from the Department of Construction, up to now, the whole province has 7,267.5km of roads, an increase of more than 150km compared to 2020. Of which, 6 national highways with a total length of nearly 500km, 12 provincial roads with a length of 614.73km, and a rural traffic system of more than 5,800km. 100% of communes have car roads to the center, 99.68% of villages have convenient motorbike and car roads, an increase of nearly 5.98% compared to the beginning of the term.

The work of mobilizing investment resources has also achieved many positive results. The Department of Construction has advised the province to coordinate with departments and branches to integrate programs, projects and capital sources to develop infrastructure, especially inter-regional traffic routes, roads to concentrated commodity production areas, border roads, and roads to difficult commune centers.

Mechanisms and policies to encourage investment in the form of public-private partnerships are being promoted, along with public planning, transparent procedures, and creating favorable conditions for businesses, organizations, and individuals to participate in investment.

Many internal traffic routes in the province are concreted, meeting the travel needs of the people.

Not only focusing on connecting infrastructure with other provinces, Lai Chau also pays attention to expanding the intra-provincial and rural transport systems. Thousands of kilometers of inter-commune and inter-village roads have been paved, many new bridges have been built, creating favorable conditions for production, trade and travel of the people.

From the provincial center to the border and remote mountainous areas, new roads not only connect geographical space but also open up development opportunities. Synchronized transport infrastructure is creating a big change in attracting investment, developing tourism, expanding commodity production areas and promoting new rural construction.

Along with investment and development, the province regularly maintains, repairs, and handles traffic black spots and applies new technology and materials in road construction and maintenance to improve the quality and longevity of the works.

In the near future, when key projects such as the Lai Chau - Noi Bai - Lao Cai Expressway and the Hoang Lien Tunnel are completed, the appearance of the province's traffic infrastructure will change completely. A synchronous and modern traffic network will not only help shorten the distance but also open up new development space, gradually making Lai Chau a connecting center of the Northwest region.

Source: https://baolaichau.vn/kinh-te/dot-pha-ha-tang-giao-thong-dong-luc-phat-trien-1168400