Increased regional connectivity from transport projects

Located in an important position in the Central Highlands region, in recent years, Dak Lak province has devoted many resources to investing in developing transport infrastructure, considering this the "key" in attracting investment and accelerating socio-economic development. In particular, when administrative boundaries are merged in the near future, the development of transport infrastructure needs to be prioritized...

Báo Đắk Lắk•18/04/2025

Currently, road transport accounts for 95% of freight and passenger transport in Dak Lak. Therefore, in recent years, important projects to develop regional and regional transport infrastructure have been approved and implemented in the province.

Notably, two key national projects passing through the province are being focused on all resources to be implemented and strived to be completed this year, including Component Project 3 of the Khanh Hoa - Buon Ma Thuot Expressway Project and the Ho Chi Minh Road Construction Investment Project, East bypass section of Buon Ma Thuot City.

In particular, the completion of the Eastern bypass of Buon Ma Thuot City will contribute to reducing traffic density on the Ho Chi Minh Highway, increasing traffic capacity and minimizing traffic accidents. Component 3 project in particular, the Khanh Hoa - Buon Ma Thuot Expressway Project in general, when completed, will not only shorten the travel time between the two provinces of Dak Lak, Khanh Hoa and neighboring areas but also contribute to promoting economic development and exploiting the potential of eco-tourism in the Central Highlands.

Construction at the intersection of Khanh Hoa - Buon Ma Thuot expressway with the Ho Chi Minh road project, avoiding the East of Buon Ma Thuot city.

In order to increase the connectivity of these two key traffic projects, Dak Lak province has recently proposed to adjust the Khanh Hoa - Buon Ma Thuot CT.02 expressway intersection (the final intersection at Km117+593). Because according to the original design, the CT.02 intersection only meets the connection between the Khanh Hoa - Buon Ma Thuot expressway and the Ho Chi Minh road, the eastern bypass of Buon Ma Thuot city. Meanwhile, Dak Lak province is currently implementing related procedures to implement the East-West road connection project of Buon Ma Thuot city. The adjustment of this intersection is expected to incur a cost of about 172 billion VND compared to the approved design, which will be used from the contingency cost of the expressway project.

Previously, Dak Lak province sent a document to relevant ministries and branches proposing to invest in building a road connecting the end of Khanh Hoa - Buon Ma Thuot expressway with the East-West road, with an estimated total cost of about 1,500 billion VND. According to the Provincial People's Committee, this project has been updated in the medium-term public investment plan for the period 2026 - 2030 and is included in the Dak Lak Provincial Planning for the period 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2050 approved by the Prime Minister in Decision No. 1747/QD-TTg, dated December 30, 2023. The total length of the route is about 5 km, passing through Hoa Dong commune (Krong Pac district) and Hoa Thang commune (Buon Ma Thuot city). The starting point intersects with the end of Khanh Hoa - Buon Ma Thuot expressway, the end point intersects with the intersection of East-West road and National Highway 27.

According to Director of the Department of Finance Vo Ngoc Tuyen, the implementation of this project will contribute to the synchronous and closed connection between the external traffic system (North-South Expressway West, Khanh Hoa - Buon Ma Thuot Expressway, National Highway 27) and the urban traffic network of Buon Ma Thuot City. On the other hand, it will increase the ability to connect and effectively exploit Buon Ma Thuot Airport; create conditions for the locality to continue to improve infrastructure connections, promote the socio-economic development of the province.

With the policy of merging provincial administrative boundaries in the East-West direction, so that localities have both sea and forest, according to Resolution No. 60-NQ/TW of the 11th Central Conference (term XIII), Dak Lak province is expected to merge with Phu Yen province, taking the name of the province as Dak Lak.

The proposal to merge the two provinces opens up opportunities to connect an agricultural economic region, with key crops such as coffee, pepper, durian of Dak Lak province with a locality with strengths in marine economy such as Phu Yen. Currently, National Highway 29 is the route connecting Dak Lak and Phu Yen provinces, with many narrow sections, the road surface is mainly asphalt concrete, and has been invested and put into use for a long time. Therefore, the two localities agreed to propose the Central Government to consider upgrading this route to serve the people's travel and trade needs, increasing the connection between the two forest-marine economies.

National Highway 29 through Ea So Nature Reserve, Dak Lak province.

This route is 293 km long, starting at Vung Ro port (Phu Yen province), ending at Dak Rue border gate (Dak Lak province). This is the route connecting the Central Coast region (Phu Yen) with the Central Highlands (Dak Lak); connecting seaports, dry ports, airports, railways, and border gates connecting the Cambodia - Laos - Vietnam development triangle area.

The National Highway 29 upgrade project is of great significance in improving the efficiency of traffic connections and promoting socio-economic development of the two localities. Accordingly, the two provinces agreed to propose upgrading this route to facilitate people's travel and trade of goods. Accordingly, the plan is oriented to invest in upgrading and expanding the section from Km31+300 (intersection with National Highway 1, Dong Hoa town, Phu Yen province) to the intersection with National Highway 14 (at Km178+062, Buon Ho town, Dak Lak province), with a total route length of nearly 147 km. The investment scale is a grade III road, design speed 60 - 80 km/h, 4 lanes, roadbed width 20.5 m.

2025 is an important year, of strategic significance for the transport sector in particular and the socio-economic development plan for the period 2021 - 2025 of Dak Lak province in general. Therefore, completing ongoing transport projects and implementing new projects will contribute to increasing connectivity in the gateway area and neighboring provinces, creating a "push" for the socio-economic development process.

Source: https://baodaklak.vn/tin-noi-bat/202504/tang-ket-noi-vung-tu-du-an-giao-thong-08d170b/