Review and upgrade existing expressways.

Prime Minister's Directive No. 05/CĐ-TTg on urgently reviewing and investing in upgrading and completing the expressways that have been invested in according to the phased scale.

Báo Đầu tư•28/12/2025

In implementing the Resolution of the 13th National Congress of the Party on infrastructure development, the Government, the Prime Minister , ministries, sectors, and localities have been very decisive in implementing expressway construction projects.

To date, the country has put into operation nearly 3,345 km of main expressways and 458 km of interchanges and access roads, exceeding the targets set by the Party Congress. Specifically in 2025, another 1,491 km of expressways will be completed, and notably, the entire North-South expressway from Cao Bang to Ca Mau will be basically completed and opened to traffic.

This achievement is the result of the efforts of ministries, sectors, and localities in seeking diverse sources of funding; the project management boards, consulting units, contractors, officials, engineers, workers, and laborers with the spirit of "overcoming the sun, conquering the rain, not losing to storms," working "3 shifts, 4 teams," "working through holidays and Tet," "eating quickly, sleeping urgently," "working day and night, working on holidays," "only discussing work, not retreating," and the unity and cooperation of the political system and people nationwide. The Prime Minister commends the ministries, sectors, localities, agencies, units, organizations, and individuals for their implementation of expressway projects in the recent period.

Hanoi - Hai Phong Expressway.

In the earlier stages, with the goal of quickly connecting expressways and creating a crucial impetus for promoting socio-economic development of the country, regions, and areas, in accordance with planning, transportation volume needs, and especially in the context of limited investment resources (capital, human resources), the standards for expressways were applied in phases (number of lanes, roadbed width, and operating speed...).

Based on that, before November 2024 (when there were no national technical standards for expressways), the Ministry of Construction and local authorities studied and proposed to competent authorities for approval the investment policy for some sections/route of expressways with phased scale (cross-section width of 2 lanes or 4 lanes with discontinuous emergency stopping lanes...).

Early investment and completion of expressways have contributed to socio-economic development. However, the approval, construction, and operation of some expressway sections/routes on a phased scale without national standards still present some limitations, such as potential risks of traffic safety hazards, traffic congestion, and traffic accidents.

Based on practical experience in investing in and operating expressways, and to promptly address the aforementioned shortcomings and limitations, the Prime Minister has directed the adjustment of many completed expressway projects; at the same time, he has directed the Ministry of Construction and the Ministry of Science and Technology to urgently research, develop, and promulgate the National Technical Standard for Expressways, which includes a minimum of 4 lanes (2 lanes in each direction), regulations on maximum and minimum speeds, continuously arranged emergency stopping lanes, and other synchronized facilities such as: access roads, traffic management and control centers, rest stops, parking facilities, vehicle weight control facilities, etc.

After being assessed by the Ministry of Science and Technology, on November 15, 2024, the Ministry of Construction issued Circular No. 57/2024/TT-BGTVT promulgating the National Technical Standard on Expressways QCVN 117:2024/BGTVT, effective from January 1, 2025. Based on this, new projects have been prepared and approved ensuring compliance with the National Technical Standard on Expressways, and their operation and maintenance are efficient and safe.

Urgently research and propose investment plans for the complete upgrading of expressways.

To improve the efficiency of expressway operations, enhance traffic safety, and meet the economic development needs of regions in the coming period, especially for projects planned and approved before January 1, 2025, the Prime Minister requests the Minister of Construction to preside over and coordinate with relevant localities to urgently review and propose investment plans to upgrade and complete the expressways that have been and are being invested in (according to phased scale, not yet meeting the National Technical Standard on Expressways No. QCVN 117:2024/BGTVT) in order to soon achieve the scale of a complete expressway according to standards; at the same time, review and invest in supplementary and synchronized technical infrastructure works on the route according to the National Technical Standard on Expressways; and report to the Prime Minister before February 15, 2026.

Chairpersons of People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities are urged to promptly study and propose investment and upgrading plans for the complete upgrading of existing and ongoing expressways under phased investment, where the locality is the managing agency, and submit them to the Ministry of Construction before February 10, 2026, for compilation.

Allocate funding early to complete the expressway projects according to national technical standards, and report to the Prime Minister before February 15th.

The Prime Minister requested the Minister of Finance to proactively coordinate with the Minister of Construction and the Chairpersons of the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities to propose the allocation of funds to expedite the completion of expressways that have been and are being invested in according to the national technical standards, based on phased investment plans; and to report to the Prime Minister before February 15, 2026.

In addition, the Ministry of Public Security has directed its agencies to strengthen propaganda, inspection, control, and strict enforcement against acts that endanger traffic safety and violate traffic laws; and to coordinate with the Ministry of Construction to continue reviewing "black spots" and potential accident locations to promptly address and minimize unfortunate traffic accidents on expressway sections with phased investment, currently being upgraded, or planned to be upgraded according to national technical standards.

Source: https://baodautu.vn/ra-soat-nang-cap-cac-tuyen-duong-bo-cao-toc-da-dau-tu-d496434.html