Determined to bring the expressway project to completion on schedule.

The vigorous implementation of the Chau Doc - Can Tho - Soc Trang and Can Tho - Ca Mau expressways is highly significant in promoting the rapid and sustainable development of the Mekong Delta region in general and Can Tho City in particular, contributing to the overall development of the country. Despite the impact of weather and difficulties in sourcing materials, workers and engineers are diligently working on the construction sites to ensure the project is completed on schedule.

Báo Cần Thơ•09/09/2025

Overcoming difficulties

In early September, the atmosphere on the construction sites of the Chau Doc - Can Tho - Soc Trang and Can Tho - Ca Mau expressways was bustling. Thousands of engineers and workers, divided into many teams—operating machinery, inspecting and supervising quality, directly involved in construction—all created a vibrant and urgent work scene, demonstrating their determination to "eat quickly, sleep quickly," and "overcome the sun and rain" to meet the deadline.

Items such as fences, guardrails, and signs are being constructed and installed in a phased manner along the sections of the Can Tho - Ca Mau expressway that have already been paved with asphalt, specifically the section passing through Can Tho City.

The Chau Doc - Can Tho - Soc Trang Expressway construction project, phase 1, the section passing through Can Tho City (after merger), includes component projects 2, 3, and 4, with a total length of 132.47 km and a total investment of nearly 31,300 billion VND. According to the report of the Can Tho City Investment and Construction Project Management Board for Transportation and Agriculture , as of early September 2025, compensation, support, and resettlement work is basically 100% complete. Regarding the relocation of technical infrastructure (high-voltage power lines), the Land Fund Development Center is currently coordinating with the City Power Company to carry out the relocation on-site. Regarding construction organization, the project has a total of 11 construction packages (10 construction packages and 1 package for the construction of the traffic safety system). Specifically, component project 2 has reached 42.12% of the contract value; Component Project 3 has reached 47.61% of the contract value; Component Project 4 has reached 40.31% of the contract value.

The total demand for sand for leveling in Component Projects 2, 3, and 4 is approximately 20.1 million ^m³ of sand. Currently, sources of about 13.313 million ^m³ have been identified, and approximately 6.529 million ^m³ have been extracted for construction. The remaining 6.788 million ^m³ is still being processed with local authorities (An Giang, Dong Thap, and Vinh Long) to complete the necessary procedures for sand extraction and supplementation for the project.

The total demand for stone materials for the three component projects is approximately 3.317 million ^m³ , of which about 0.685 million ^m³ has been stockpiled and used. The volume of stone with identified sources is 1.838 million ^m³ (of which An Giang province has committed to supporting 1.443 million ^m³ , Dong Nai province has committed to supporting 0.2 million ^m³ ; and 0.195 million ^m³ has been contracted with Thuong Tan quarry, Ho Chi Minh City). The volume with undetermined sources is approximately 1.004 million ^m³ ; the investor and contractor continue to contact and register their needs at quarries in Dong Nai province and Ho Chi Minh City, essentially meeting the material requirements.

Currently, the construction of bridges along the route is progressing according to schedule and ahead of schedule. However, the section of the route that is behind schedule is due to delays in the delivery of sand to the construction site. The investor is urgently directing consulting units and construction contractors to coordinate surveys and studies to adjust design solutions and construction methods to shorten the schedule and strive to complete the project as directed by the Prime Minister. At the same time, the investor and relevant units are focusing on contacting localities with sources of sand and stone to serve the construction.

Lieutenant Colonel Tran Quang Hoat, Deputy Director of the Truong Son 10 Project Management Board, 12th Army Corps, Truong Son Construction Corporation, the project's contractor, stated: "Regarding the exploitation of river sand for construction, we have mobilized personnel, equipment, and transportation vehicles to maximize exploitation in accordance with the approved environmental impact assessment reports and in line with the Prime Minister's directive to work overtime, in shifts, and throughout holidays and Tet (Lunar New Year). Currently, some sections of the road have been pre-loaded, and asphalt paving can begin around October this year."

Racing against time

The Can Tho - Ca Mau expressway project is also racing against time to be completed this year. The atmosphere on the construction site is one of urgency among engineers and workers. Contractors are maintaining continuous construction, even during the September 2nd holiday, to ensure overall requirements are met. The Can Tho - Ca Mau expressway project has a main route of over 110km and nearly 26km of connecting routes, passing through Can Tho City, An Giang Province, and Ca Mau Province. The project has a total investment of over 27,520 billion VND; construction started on January 1, 2023, and is planned for completion on December 19, 2025.

Mr. Tran Van Thi, Director of the My Thuan Project Management Board, said that the Can Tho - Ca Mau expressway is divided into two component projects. To date, the construction progress of the Can Tho - Hau Giang section has reached 76%; and the Hau Giang - Ca Mau section has reached approximately 70.5%. Throughout the more than 110km length, over 2,450 engineers and workers, divided into 139 construction teams, are racing against time, working from 6:30 AM to 1:00 AM, taking turns on the construction site. Despite the immense pressure to meet the deadline for completion of the Can Tho - Hau Giang and Hau Giang - Ca Mau sections by December, contributing to the goal of having 3,000km of expressways by the end of this year, quality and labor safety must be absolutely ensured.

According to Colonel Tran Hai Bac, Executive Director of the Truong Son South Construction Group, Truong Son Construction Corporation, the contractor's output has reached approximately 80% of the contract value. In addition, along the route, Truong Son Construction Corporation is constructing 20 bridges for two component projects of the North-South Expressway: the Can Tho - Hau Giang section and Package 1 of the Hau Giang - Ca Mau section. Over the past period, the project has received significant attention from the Government, the Ministry of Construction, and local authorities. Throughout the project's implementation, the contractor has consistently received support and assistance from the investor, the Project Management Board, and the supervisory consultant, as well as regular guidance and direction from the Commander of the 12th Army Corps. Through the construction period, the management boards and construction units have gained considerable experience in simultaneously carrying out construction in multiple directions and fronts, taking advantage of favorable weather conditions to accelerate progress.

According to Colonel Tran Hai Bac, generally, projects located in areas requiring weak soil treatment need a long time to process, thus affecting the construction plan. Some work items require design adjustments, impacting construction organization, and the supply of sand for road embankment is scarce... However, with the spirit of "eating quickly, sleeping urgently," "construction urgently," and "overcoming the sun and rain," the unit has arranged "3 shifts, 4 teams" to work throughout the holiday to ensure completion on schedule by December 19, 2025.

To expedite the construction progress of expressway projects in Can Tho City, Mr. Nguyen Van Hoa, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Can Tho City, requested the project investors and construction units to develop detailed plans for inspection and supervision. Contractors are to mobilize maximum machinery, equipment, and personnel, apply new scientific and technological advancements, take advantage of readily available sources of leveling materials and favorable weather conditions, focus on construction, and be determined to complete each task to compensate for any delays, ensuring the completion of planned output and the disbursement of allocated funds. Emphasis should be placed on the implementation of bridge projects; proactive coordination with relevant units is necessary to closely monitor the sand supply situation. In addition, investors should regularly inspect and supervise, coordinate to resolve difficulties, and promptly rectify any issues to ensure progress according to plan. Technical requirements must be met, construction quality improved, and environmental sanitation maintained. Mobilize additional contractors with sufficient capacity and qualifications to support construction in accordance with regulations, ensuring timely and quality completion.

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