Breakthrough in transportation infrastructure development

Located in the heart of the Mekong Delta, the province holds a particularly important position, serving as a trading hub between major economic axes in the region. This provides favorable conditions for the province to build a regional transportation infrastructure system, creating momentum for the local economy.

Located in the heart of the Mekong Delta, the province holds a particularly important position, serving as a trading hub between major economic axes in the region. This provides favorable conditions for the province to build a regional transportation infrastructure system, creating momentum for the local economy.

Many key projects currently underway in the province will be new drivers for its development. In the photo: Dai Ngai 1 Bridge construction site.

Convenient connectivity

Over the years, with the central government's investment and the strong determination of the local authorities, the province's transportation infrastructure has continuously transformed. According to Mr. Duong Van Phuc, Director of the Department of Construction, a series of key regional projects will be implemented during the 2020-2025 period. Notable among these are the My Thuan- Can Tho expressway, My Thuan 2 bridge, Rach Mieu 2 bridge, and Dai Ngai bridge – major projects that enhance regional connectivity and shorten the distance for trade between large economic centers.

According to the approved revised feasibility study report for the My Thuan-Can Tho Expressway Construction Project, Phase 1, the project includes the addition of an expressway interchange and a local access road section passing through the province.

To date, localities have completed the payment of compensation and resettlement support to households, and have handed over the land to investors and contractors for construction. The province has invested in the construction, renovation, and upgrading of many provincial roads, as well as rural and community bridges in remote areas. These projects are significant for economic development, contributing to improving people's lives and creating favorable conditions for production and trade. In particular, the Dinh Khao Bridge Project on National Highway 57, upon completion, will contribute to improving intra-regional and inter-regional connectivity.

“After these projects are completed, they will connect the expressway from Ho Chi Minh City to Can Tho, link National Highway 57, and create a regional transportation network, which will facilitate travel and goods circulation, help businesses develop production better, attract investment, and create momentum to promote economic development of the province and the Mekong Delta region; contributing to strengthening national defense and security of the locality and the region,” Mr. Phuc said.

The province currently has many transportation projects that have been included in the road network plan for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, such as the Ho Chi Minh City-Tien Giang-Ben Tre-Tra Vinh-Soc Trang expressway (CT.33); the Hong Nguy-Tra Vinh expressway (CT.36) and the coastal road connecting Ho Chi Minh City with the Mekong Delta provinces.

Specifically, the CT.33 expressway and the Mekong Delta coastal road serve as the north-south spatial connection axis of the province, facilitating the trade of goods between the province and key sub-regional centers in the East and inter-regional urban clusters in the Mekong Delta, connecting with Ho Chi Minh City. Meanwhile, the CT.36 horizontal expressway is the east-west connection axis of the province, linking the province's economic and urban centers with upstream provinces of the Mekong River, border economic zones, and Cambodia.

These projects will create urban, service, and industrial zones; simultaneously, they will remove bottlenecks in logistics, increase the competitiveness of goods and products; and enhance the attractiveness of the investment environment and competitiveness, enabling the province to attract even more investment.

Breakthrough in transportation infrastructure

Despite having many favorable conditions for connectivity, the province's transportation infrastructure still has some limitations: many national and provincial roads do not meet technical standards, have narrow and degraded surfaces; the system of district and inter-commune roads is fragmented; and investment and maintenance capital is low compared to the needs. The potential of inland waterway transport has not been effectively exploited due to limitations in bridge clearance and waterways... These shortcomings require the province to have a long-term vision and breakthrough solutions to develop a synchronous and modern transportation infrastructure system that meets the requirements of the new era.

The Ministry of Construction has agreed on the necessity of building bridges to replace the Lang Sat and Kenh Tat ferries on National Highway 53 and the Kenh 6 ferry on National Highway 53B. In the photo: Lang Sat ferry terminal.

According to Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Vinh (Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics), although Vinh Long possesses many favorable transportation conditions, its infrastructure development is currently slow, inconsistent, and not commensurate with its development potential, even within the region. “If we don’t seize the opportunity, potential, and time, Vinh Long will find it very difficult to compete with other localities in the region in the field of transportation and logistics. Specifically, the Hon Khoai dual-use general port in Ca Mau province has commenced construction and is a prominent port in the future,” Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Vinh shared.

According to the Decision approving the adjustment of the provincial planning for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, in the future, when general aviation develops, based on the old Ben Tre provincial planning, the location of the specialized airport will be studied in the Bao Thanh and Tan Thuy communes (within the former Ba Tri district), connected to the coastal road axis. The purpose of building a specialized airport is to serve rescue and relief operations, develop tourism, and the coastal economic zone and future expanded economic zone. The specialized airport will ensure a balance between national interests and community interests, meeting the tasks of national defense, security, and socio-economic development.

According to the Provincial People's Committee, in the coming time, the province will develop a synchronous and modern transportation network, in accordance with the national transportation planning and plan, ensuring safety, convenience, environmental friendliness, and adaptation to climate change.

In particular, focus on building a strong external transportation axis, closely linking regions, along with an intra-provincial driving axis connecting with the central urban area, industrial zones, coastal economic zones, logistics centers, and high-tech agricultural production areas.

Simultaneously, it aims to harmoniously integrate road and waterway transport with a modern infrastructure, port, and logistics system, in order to form a dynamic riverside and coastal economic corridor, promoting deep and broad linkages between the Mekong Delta region and Ho Chi Minh City, and maximizing the potential of the marine economy and sustainable agriculture in an expanded development space.

In addition, the province is also focusing on investing in the development of large-scale transportation axes in the North-South and East-West directions to connect the seaport system, industrial zones, economic zones, and urban areas, ensuring the integration of different modes of transportation, contributing to enhancing competitiveness and attracting investment.

Text and photos: KHANH DUY

Source: https://baovinhlong.com.vn/thoi-su/202603/dot-pha-phat-trien-ha-tang-giao-thong-4d05f3c/