Construction resumes on many Ben Luc - Long Thanh expressway packages

After three years of suspension, the eastern section of the Ben Luc - Long Thanh expressway has resumed construction on many items, expected to be completed in the second quarter of next year.

The information was announced by Mr. Dang Huu Vi, Director of the Southern Expressway Management Board on May 10, after the investor completed the selection of a new contractor to replace the old unit that had terminated the contract. Package A6 passing through Dong Nai , more than 16 km long, divided into 5 small packages, of which 4 packages have new contractors and are being re-constructed simultaneously. The remaining items are being accelerated in selecting a new contractor.

Construction workers return to package A6. Photo: VEC — Construction workers return to package A6. Photo: *VEC*

According to Mr. Vi, Package A6 had previously completed nearly 34% of the volume but was suspended since 2019 because the old contractor terminated the contract due to funding problems. After restarting, the remaining items of this package are expected to be completed in full by the beginning of the second quarter of 2024.

In addition, two other large packages in the eastern section of the highway, including A5, have been basically completed, and package A7, with the volume also reaching more than 68%.

The Ben Luc - Long Thanh Expressway is nearly 58 km long, passing through Long An, Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai, and started construction in 2014. In the first phase, the route is designed with 4 lanes, 2 emergency lanes, and a speed of 120 km/h. This is a national key project, helping to connect the two regions of the East and the Southwest, creating momentum for the development of the Southern Key Economic Zone.

The project has a total investment of VND31,320 billion, including three capital sources from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Japan International Cooperation Agency and domestic counterpart funds. The route is divided into three sections, including 11 main construction packages. Of which, 5 packages in the western section (A1, A2-1, A2-2, A3, A4) use ADB capital. Three packages in the middle section (J1, J2, J3) use JICA capital. The remaining three packages in the east (A5, A6, A7) use capital from the second ADB loan agreement.

A section of the Ben Luc - Long Thanh expressway passing through Dong Nai, in 2022. Photo: Phuoc Tuan — A section of the Ben Luc - Long Thanh expressway passing through Dong Nai, in 2022. Photo: *Phuoc Tuan*

In 2019, the project reached 80% of its volume but was stuck in procedures and was not allocated capital, leading to many contractors stopping construction. To resolve the problem and restart the entire project, the Ministry of Transport submitted to the Government for approval an adjustment to the investment policy, including postponing the completion date to September 2025 and adjusting the financial mechanism for each capital source in the project. In particular, VEC is allowed to use accumulated capital and legal sources of the unit to complete the project.

Gia Minh

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