Complete the highway, unlock resources

The Hanoi - Thai Nguyen - Cho Moi Expressway is identified as a strategic transport project, a driving force contributing to creating a breakthrough in socio-economic development for the Northern Midlands and Mountains. After a period of operation, the route is facing an urgent need to be fully invested in accordance with the planning and technical standards. The initiative of Thai Nguyen province and the consensus of relevant ministries, branches, localities and investors are opening up prospects for realizing this project.

The Hanoi - Thai Nguyen expressway was put into operation in 2014, contributing significantly to promoting local socio -economic development.

According to the Road Network Planning for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, the Hanoi - Thai Nguyen - Bac Kan - Cao Bang Expressway (CT.07) is about 227km long, with a scale of 4-6 lanes, and an investment roadmap before 2030. In terms of scale, the Hanoi - Thai Nguyen section will invest in 6 lanes; the Thai Nguyen - Bac Kan - Cao Bang section will have 4 lanes.

However, in reality, the 62.4km Hanoi - Thai Nguyen section (put into operation in 2014) is still operating at 4 lanes, although most of the land has been cleared and bridges and culverts built with a scale of 6 lanes.

The 41.3km Thai Nguyen - Cho Moi section, which has only 2 lanes and was invested in the form of BOT since 2017, does not meet the minimum standard of 4 lanes as prescribed by the National Technical Regulations on Expressways. This makes the route lose its true expressway function and exposes many shortcomings in operation.

Overpass construction on Thai Nguyen - Cho Moi highway, located in Phu Luong commune. Photo: TL

Statistics show that traffic volume on the Hanoi - Thai Nguyen expressway is increasing, averaging about 25,000 to 45,000 vehicles per day and night. After more than 10 years of operation, some road surfaces have been rutted, the emergency lanes are narrow, and traffic organization is unreasonable, causing congestion in many sections, especially during rush hours.

Mr. Nguyen Van Thang, Phan Dinh Phung Ward: I have been driving on the Hanoi - Thai Nguyen route for more than 10 years, so I am familiar with every section of the road. Many sections are prone to traffic jams, and just a minor collision can cause a traffic jam for an hour. If the road is expanded to 6 lanes with an emergency lane, it will be much safer for drivers and passengers.

With the characteristic of having many heavy trucks and container trucks circulating regularly, this route is facing pressure beyond its original design. Not only causing traffic safety problems, overloading also leads to high operating costs, increased travel time, and reduced competitiveness of transport enterprises and related economic sectors.

These shortcomings are the reason why the Ministry of Construction has proposed that the Prime Minister soon approve the investment policy to complete the Hanoi - Thai Nguyen - Cho Moi expressway under the form of public-private partnership (PPP). The proposed plan is divided into two sections.

The first section, from Hanoi's Ring Road III intersection to Tan Long intersection, 61.2km long, will be invested in and expanded to a complete 6-lane scale, with a design speed of 100km/h. The second section, from Tan Long to Thanh Binh intersection (Cho Moi commune), 39.49km long, will be invested in a complete 4-lane scale, with a similar speed.

The total estimated investment for the entire route is 16,789 billion VND, of which the State capital is about 5,363 billion VND, the rest is mobilized by investors. The contract form is BOT, while people still have the right to choose the parallel non-toll route, the old National Highway 3.

Thai Nguyen proactively "took on the role"

According to the recent announcement of the Ministry of Construction, Thai Nguyen province has been assigned to manage and have the authority to organize the implementation of the CT.07 Expressway Construction Investment Project, Hanoi - Thai Nguyen - Cho Moi section. This is a reasonable decision, because in the total length of the route of 100.69km, the section passing through Thai Nguyen accounts for the majority.

The province is also the locality that will benefit the most when the route is completed, with its central role connecting the Northern Midlands and Mountains region with the capital Hanoi and major industrial and service centers in the North.

Immediately after the Ministry of Construction issued a document on the investment plan to complete the Hanoi - Thai Nguyen - Cho Moi expressway, the People's Committee of Thai Nguyen province quickly directed relevant departments and branches to complete the documents and submit them to the Provincial People's Council for consideration and approval of a resolution agreeing on the proposal to implement the project.

Thai Nguyen Department of Construction is the technical focal point, has comprehensively assessed the current status of the route, established a preliminary technical plan, proposed the investment scale, total investment, capital structure, implementation form, etc. That proactive and urgent spirit demonstrates the province's high determination in seizing opportunities, promoting regional connectivity and improving strategic infrastructure.

With experience from implementing many key transport projects in recent years such as: Linking routes connecting Thai Nguyen - Bac Giang - Vinh Phuc provinces; Ring Road V, Huong Thuong Bridge, Ben Tuong Bridge... Thai Nguyen has enough capacity to implement, especially in terms of capital allocation and site clearance, and experience to undertake implementation.

Assigning localities to be the investment management agencies is also consistent with the spirit of decentralization and delegation of power of the Central Government, helping to shorten procedures, increase initiative, promote local resources, and ensure synchronization between infrastructure investment and spatial development planning on both sides of the route.

Creating new development momentum

The completion of the Hanoi - Thai Nguyen - Cho Moi expressway not only solves the traffic problem, but also creates an important lever for the economic development of Thai Nguyen province in particular and the Northern Midlands and Mountains region in general, especially industrial production and logistics.

The route contributes to creating favorable conditions to connect the province's key industrial zones such as Diem Thuy, Yen Binh, Song Cong I, Song Cong II... with the capital Hanoi and international seaports and border gates. Thanks to that, logistics costs will be reduced, product competitiveness will increase, opening up opportunities to attract more domestic and foreign investment in Thai Nguyen and surrounding areas.

Ms. Do Mai Huong, Deputy Director of Ha Lan Trade and Tourism Joint Stock Company: We currently have about 400 vehicles, of which 2/3 operate on the Hanoi - Thai Nguyen - Cho Moi Expressway. Investing in completing this route will help shorten travel time, increase vehicle rotation capacity, reduce fuel costs and technical wear. Reducing congestion also means increasing safety and reducing accident risks.

Not stopping there, the completed expressway also contributes to improving the quality of life of the people, reducing traffic accidents, shortening travel time from the highland areas to the provincial administrative center and major cities. This also opens up opportunities for people to better access education, health, trade services and the dynamic labor market in the central region.

Rest stops need to be invested synchronously on the Hanoi - Thai Nguyen - Cho Moi highway to meet the needs of people and vehicles.

Strategically, the completion of the route is an important link in the Viet Bac economic corridor, connecting Cao Bang - Thai Nguyen - Hanoi - Hai Phong; contributing to the effective implementation of resolutions on regional development, improving the competitiveness of the Northern Midlands and Mountains region - a place with a lot of potential but traffic infrastructure is still a certain bottleneck.

Currently, the proposed main investor is Phuong Thanh Transport Investment and Construction Joint Stock Company - a unit with capacity and experience in implementing many large projects such as expanding Phap Van - Cau Gie Expressway, Bach Dang Bridge...

However, to be officially selected, this enterprise must meet the standards of financial capacity, technology, experience and capital mobilization plan. Another issue that needs to be properly handled is the coordination with the existing BOT investor managing the Thai Nguyen - Cho Moi section, to ensure no legal overlap and no overlapping of interests between the parties.

It can be affirmed that the Hanoi - Thai Nguyen - Cho Moi Expressway Project is a clear demonstration of a synchronous, systematic and long-term effective development mindset. The choice of the PPP model helps reduce pressure on the State budget, while promoting socialized resources, in line with the orientation of Resolution No. 68-NQ/TW of the Politburo on private economic development. This is also a practical "test" of the capacity to implement large infrastructure projects under the public-private partnership model in localities.

With high political determination, close coordination between the Central and local governments, and consensus of the people, the Hanoi - Thai Nguyen - Cho Moi expressway, when completed, will not only bring positive changes in traffic, but also open up a new development space, contributing to reshaping the regional economic map and creating a solid foundation for Thai Nguyen's breakthroughs in the coming period.

The Hanoi - Thai Nguyen - Cho Moi Expressway has a total length of 100.69km. The section from Ring Road III (Hanoi) to Tan Long is 61.2km long and will be expanded to 6 complete lanes with a design speed of 100km/h. The section from Tan Long to Thanh Binh (Cho Moi commune) is 39.49km long and will be invested with a scale of 4 lanes with the same design speed.

The total investment for the entire route is 16,789 billion VND, of which the State capital support is about 5,363 billion VND (including the Central budget and Thai Nguyen province). The project is expected to be implemented in the form of a build-operate-transfer contract.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/giao-thong/202507/hoan-thien-cao-toc-khoi-thong-nguon-luc-603191b/