Opening the way to the sea: Creating new development momentum for the Central Highlands

Dak Lak is speeding up the construction progress of component project 3, the Khanh Hoa - Buon Ma Thuot expressway. Photo: MAI CUONG

Connected by highway

In the Northern Central Highlands, two expressway projects are receiving great expectations in creating development momentum: the Quy Nhon - Pleiku Expressway Construction Investment Project (connecting Binh Dinh - Gia Lai) and the Quang Ngai - Kon Tum Expressway Construction Investment Project (connecting Quang Ngai - Kon Tum). When completed, the projects will shorten the distance, opening a major road from the mountainous region to the sea.

Given the importance of the Quy Nhon - Pleiku Expressway Project, Gia Lai Province has proactively provided capital and materials to prepare for implementation. Specifically, the Gia Lai Provincial People's Council has issued a resolution allocating VND 500 billion of local budget capital to participate in the project. In addition, the Gia Lai Provincial People's Committee has requested localities to review and plan areas for quarries of common construction materials and construction sand to update the district-level land use planning adjustment, as a basis for auctioning and granting mineral exploitation licenses, and promptly having a source of materials for project construction.

The Quang Ngai - Kon Tum expressway project is also being vigorously implemented. According to the proposal of the People's Committees of Quang Ngai and Kon Tum provinces, this project is 136km long, has a scale of 4 lanes, and an investment capital of more than 35,300 billion VND. The two localities proposed an investment plan in the form of public investment, with implementation progress in the period of 2025-2028. The People's Committees of the two provinces committed to allocating sufficient local budgets to carry out site clearance work; handing over clean land for the project in 2026. Currently, the Ministry of Construction has issued a decision to assign Project Management Board 85 to organize the preparation of a pre-feasibility study report for the expressway project.

Mr. Phan Muoi, Director of Kon Tum Department of Construction, said that the above expressway project is very important for the local economic development. Therefore, Kon Tum province is determined to invest and complete the project soon. To promote the project's early implementation, the department has proactively invited Project Management Board 85 to conduct a field survey. Kon Tum Provincial People's Committee has established an interdisciplinary working group to coordinate the preparation of a pre-feasibility study report for the project.

More trading opportunities

In Dak Lak, two important transport projects are being invested and promoted, connecting Dak Lak with Khanh Hoa and connecting Dak Lak with Phu Yen. These are the Khanh Hoa - Buon Ma Thuot Expressway Project and National Highway 29.

The Khanh Hoa - Buon Ma Thuot expressway started construction in June 2024, about 117km long, with a total investment of more than VND 21,900 billion, and is expected to be put into operation in 2027. The project is divided into 3 component projects, in which the People's Committees of Khanh Hoa and Dak Lak provinces are the investors of Component Projects 1 and 3, and the Ministry of Transport (now the Ministry of Construction) is the managing agency of Component Project 2. According to the leader of the Management Board of the Project for Investment in Construction of Transport Works and Rural Development of Dak Lak Province (representing the investor of Component Project 3), contractors are currently working overtime to keep up with the construction schedule. It is expected that by August 30, the Khanh Hoa - Buon Ma Thuot expressway will be open to traffic.

Meanwhile, National Highway 29 connecting Dak Lak with Phu Yen is currently seriously degraded, affecting traffic between the two provinces. To facilitate connection, the People's Committees of the two provinces have met to discuss and propose to the Prime Minister a plan to upgrade National Highway 29, in which they agreed on an investment plan to upgrade and expand the route to a scale of 4 lanes, a roadbed width of 20.5m; design speed of 60-80km/h. According to a leader of the Dak Lak Provincial People's Committee, after being upgraded and expanded, National Highway 29 will smoothly connect Phu Yen with Dak Lak and important traffic axes such as Vietnam's coastal road, National Highway 1, the North-South Eastern Expressway, National Highway 14. At the same time, it connects with seaports, airports, border gates, etc. This is considered the most convenient route, creating momentum for the development of economic corridors of the two localities and neighboring areas. Similarly, Lam Dong and Khanh Hoa have agreed to propose the Prime Minister to allow investment in the Nha Trang - Da Lat Expressway Project before 2030, about 81km long, 4 lanes, designed speed of 80-100km/h; total investment of about 25,000 billion VND. Currently, Nha Trang and Da Lat are connected by National Highway 27C, which often has landslides, and the travel time is quite long. A leader of Lam Dong province affirmed that if the expressway is about 81km long, with a speed of 100km/h, it will significantly shorten travel time, creating more opportunities for trade between the two localities.

Lam Dong Provincial People's Committee has just approved the investment project to build the Bao Loc - Lien Khuong Expressway, 73.6km long, with a total investment of more than 17,710 billion VND. The project starts at Loc Phat Ward, Bao Loc City; the end point intersects with the Lien Khuong - Prenn Expressway (in Hiep Thanh Commune, Duc Trong District). This is a big step forward for Lam Dong to realize the parallel expressway, while reducing the load on National Highway 20. Meanwhile, the Tan Phu - Bao Loc Expressway Project, 66km long, passing through Lam Dong and Dong Nai provinces, is currently being urgently deployed by localities to prepare for the groundbreaking ceremony.

HUU PHUC - MAI CUONG - DOAN KIEN

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/mo-duong-ra-bien-tao-dong-luc-phat-trien-moi-cho-tay-nguyen-post793700.html