Paving the way - opening the future...

On its journey to becoming a new growth pole in the North, Thanh Hoa has been mobilizing resources to implement breakthroughs in infrastructure, especially transportation infrastructure connecting key economic zones and regions, creating favorable conditions to attract investment, enhance competitiveness, and open up opportunities for the future...

The Van Thien to Ben En road is currently under urgent construction by the relevant units. Photo: Thu Hoa

From the bridge spanning the two banks of the Ma River...

For generations, the Ma Giang River, the mother river, has served as a natural boundary between Thieu Quang commune (Thieu Hoa district) on the right bank and Hoang Hoa district (Hoang Xuan commune). To cross into Thieu Quang from Hoang Hoa district, both people and vehicles have to precariously navigate a pontoon bridge or detour through Thieu Thinh to Thieu Quang. Like an oasis in a vast expanse of water, a bridge seems to be needed in every direction...

When Thanh Hoa province invested in building the Xuan Quang bridge connecting the two banks of the Ma River, the local government and people were all overjoyed. Mr. Tran Quang Ba, Deputy Commander of the Military Command of Thieu Quang commune, shared: “The Xuan Quang bridge, now connected to the expressway at the Thieu Giang intersection, will open up development opportunities not only for Thieu Quang but also for the surrounding areas. Improved transportation will shorten the distance for goods trade, promote the development of various industries, and raise the living standards of the people.”

The Xuan Quang Bridge over the Ma River is a component of the project connecting National Highway 1 with National Highway 45 from Hoang Xuan commune (Hoang Hoa district) to Thieu Long commune (Thieu Hoa district). In the final days of 2024, the construction units completed the assigned work. According to the plan, the Xuan Quang Bridge will be completed in January 2025 to open to traffic before the Lunar New Year of the Year of the Snake 2025. The Xuan Quang Bridge, once put into use, will create a foundation for the formation of modern industrial zones in the area, shorten travel time between the western districts of the province, contribute to socio-economic development, ensure national defense and security, and facilitate the early establishment of industrial zones in the region.

Reaching the "heart of Nghi Son" connects all directions.

As one of the eight key coastal economic zones nationwide, with an extremely important strategic geographical location for socio-economic development and national defense and security, the Nghi Son Economic Zone (NZZ) has always received attention and investment from the central government and the province in a comprehensive and modern direction, increasing its attractiveness and drawing major investors to establish their businesses there.

Mr. Le Dinh Trang, Director of the Investment and Construction Project Management Board for the Nghi Son Economic Zone and Industrial Parks in Thanh Hoa (hereinafter referred to as the Regional Board), stated: “The investment in transportation infrastructure in the Nghi Son Economic Zone by central ministries and agencies and Thanh Hoa province is of great significance, gradually completing the transportation network according to the plan. This is a top socio-economic development strategy to make Nghi Son the leading economic center of the province, and gradually transform Thanh Hoa into a new growth pole in the North.”

We visited the construction site of the project connecting the North-South Expressway and National Highway 1 to Nghi Son Port on New Year's Day 2025. The project consists of two routes: Route 1 is Provincial Road 512, a 10.3km section from National Highway 1 to Tho Xuan - Nghi Son Road, passing through wards and communes in Nghi Son town and Nong Cong district; Route 2 is the Nghi Son - Bai Tranh Road, a 3km section from Ho Bridge to the interchange with the North-South Expressway, located within Nghi Son town. “This project is of great significance in connecting inter-regional areas, forming an external transportation route directly connecting to National Highway 1 and the North-South Expressway. Upon completion, the project will shorten travel time between the western districts of the province and the Nghi Son Economic Zone, creating a comprehensive transportation network connecting the North-South Expressway, the Nghi Son - Tho Xuan road, and regional roads with Tho Xuan Airport and Nghi Son seaport,” said Mr. Nguyen Viet Khoi, Head of the Technical and Appraisal Department of the Regional Board.

Lach Truong Bridge - the longest overpass bridge in Thanh Hoa. Photo: Pham Luc (Thanh Hoa Provincial Project Management Board for Investment in Transportation Works)

By December 31, 2024, the construction units of the project connecting the North-South Expressway and National Highway 1 to Nghi Son Port had achieved approximately 170 billion VND, completing 100% of the 2024 capital plan. The regional board has been focusing on directing the units to implement solutions to complete the project ahead of schedule, striving to put it into use by the end of 2025.

Paving the way - opening the path into an era of national resurgence.

Identifying infrastructure development as one of the breakthroughs towards the future, Mr. Nguyen Duc Trung, Deputy Director of the Department of Transport, outlined the "picture" of Thanh Hoa's transportation infrastructure, which has been and is being invested in and improved in a synchronized and modern direction: "In recent times, in addition to the attention and support from the Central Government, Thanh Hoa province has mobilized maximum resources and implemented comprehensive solutions, focusing on strengthening the connection of the province's key economic zones and promoting regional linkages." The work of developing planning, mechanisms, and policies has been carried out synchronously, with a long-term vision, and is one step ahead. Transportation projects are prioritized in terms of capital allocation, ensuring focused and targeted investment, with the largest investment being in road infrastructure. The Central Government has invested in approximately 98km of expressways running through Thanh Hoa province. Along with National Highway 1 and the Ho Chi Minh Highway, the Eastern Expressway, which has been invested in and put into operation, has formed a new external transportation route for the province, connecting regions, areas, and dynamic economic centers of the province, the region, and the whole country.

Transportation infrastructure leads the way – paving the way for the future. Understanding this in its grand sense reveals a vast space for development, connecting transportation infrastructure. The presence of this road will serve as a foundation for other roads to follow and open up. Several important connecting roads in the province have been completed and put into use recently, such as: the project to build a road connecting National Highway 217 with National Highways 45 and 47; the project to connect National Highway 1 with National Highway 45; the coastal road project through Sam Son – Quang Xuong; the project to connect Thanh Hoa City with Tho Xuan Airport..., contributing to creating momentum for rapid and sustainable socio-economic development, ensuring national defense and security, and improving the lives of the people. This is vivid and concrete evidence, demonstrated by the impressive socio-economic development indicators that Thanh Hoa achieved in 2024.

At the recent 37th Conference of the Provincial Party Committee, Provincial Party Secretary Nguyen Doan Anh emphasized: “The year 2025 plays a particularly important role, it is the year of the finish line, and has a crucial and decisive significance for achieving the goals of the 19th Provincial Party Congress, term 2020-2025, and the province's 5-year socio-economic development plan 2021-2025; it is also the year for organizing party congresses at all levels, leading up to the 14th National Party Congress.”

With strong determination and great effort, Thanh Hoa province has been implementing comprehensive solutions, contributing to the breakthrough in infrastructure development and creating momentum for socio-economic development. It has mobilized resources and allocated capital to invest in and complete large-scale, key projects connecting regions and dynamic economic centers, focusing on routes connecting the interchanges of the North-South expressway with the province's economic and political centers, industrial zones, tourist areas, urban areas, seaports, and airports.

On the path of development in Thanh Hoa province, many major goals continue to be pursued; many projects are planned... The main road has been opened, and Thanh Hoa is continuing to build its strength and momentum, confidently stepping into a new era - the era of national progress.

Thuy Duong

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/mo-duong-mo-tuong-lai-237932.htm