Promoting investment in road projects to improve connectivity in the Mekong Delta region

Can Tho City is promoting investment in the Project "Construction of roads to improve connectivity in the Southeast region of Soc Trang province (old) and connect with Bac Lieu and Tra Vinh provinces (old)" to connect the localities of Vinh Long, Can Tho and Ca Mau; promote development of the Mekong Delta region. The project will build 2 roads with a total length of more than 70km, and at the same time combine with a sea dyke line to adapt to climate change.

Can Tho City leaders work with ADB delegation.

The project uses loans from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and has been approved by the Prime Minister (in Decision No. 975/QD-TTg dated May 20, 2025). The objective of the project is to develop the economy, promote the existing potential advantages of Soc Trang province (old), help the locality prevent saline intrusion, high tides, protect people's lives and property, form a traffic axis to serve coastal rescue work, connect traffic between regions in the province; facilitate the development of agriculture, forestry, tourism as well as wind power industry... At the same time, create a traffic axis connecting agricultural, forestry and fishery economic regions, meet the travel and transportation needs of people, create a driving force for socio-economic development of the Mekong Delta region in general and Soc Trang province (old) in particular.

The project is invested by the Management Board of Investment Projects for Construction of Traffic and Agricultural Works of Can Tho City; the expected implementation progress is from 2025-2030; the total investment is expected to be 6,822.87 billion VND (equivalent to 295 million USD), of which the expected ADB loan is 4,516.88 billion VND and the remaining is counterpart capital of 2,305.99 billion VND. The project includes 2 routes: provincial route 935C and the coastal road connecting Tra Vinh and Bac Lieu (old). The two routes will connect the existing regional traffic system network and are expected to connect the planned traffic network in the future. Regarding the connection of existing roads, there are National Highway (QL) 1, QL91B, Nam Song Hau road, provincial roads 933, 934, 934B and the expressways under construction such as Chau Doc - Can Tho - Soc Trang and planned expressways...

According to the consulting unit, the 935C provincial road is 39km long, the starting point intersects with the planned National Highway 60 (in Dai Ngai commune, Can Tho city) and the ending point intersects with the coastal road (in Vinh Chau ward, Can Tho city); the investment scale for the construction of a level III plain road, the roadbed is 9m, on the route it is planned to build about 61 bridges with a cross-section of 9m. The coastal road connecting Tra Vinh and Bac Lieu (old) is 31.4km long, the starting point intersects with the 935C provincial road (in Vinh Chau ward) and the ending point is on the existing dike, at the border between Ca Mau province and Can Tho city (in Lai Hoa commune, Can Tho city); the investment scale for the construction of a level III plain road, the roadbed is 12m, on the route it is planned to upgrade 9 bridges with a cross-section of 12m. With a total expected investment of more than VND 6,822 billion, the loan will be used for items such as construction costs, equipment and construction and equipment contingency costs; and counterpart funds will be used for items such as project management costs, consulting costs, site clearance costs, taxes and fees, and contingency costs for these items.

Regarding the project's next implementation plan, from now until the end of 2025, a pre-feasibility study report will be prepared and the project investment policy will be approved. In 2026, a feasibility study report and an environmental impact assessment report will be prepared and approved; a loan agreement will be reached; compensation, support and resettlement work will be carried out; construction drawings and estimates will be prepared and approved; construction, supervision and insurance contractors will be selected. In 2027, construction will begin and compensation, support and resettlement work will continue. By 2030, the project will be completed, accepted, finalized and handed over for use.

Recently, the ADB delegation visited Can Tho City to conduct a field survey and work with Can Tho City leaders on the progress of the preparation of the Project "Construction of roads to improve connectivity in the Southeast region of Soc Trang province (old) and connect with Bac Lieu and Tra Vinh provinces (old)". Representatives of the ADB delegation agreed on the progress and implementation plan of the project. During the project implementation, ADB experts will closely coordinate with the city's departments, branches and sectors.

At the working session with the ADB delegation, Mr. Nguyen Van Hoa, Vice Chairman of Can Tho City People's Committee, emphasized: The project "Construction of roads to improve connectivity in the Southeast region of Soc Trang province (old) and connect with Bac Lieu and Tra Vinh provinces (old)" is very necessary for Soc Trang province (old), now Can Tho City. In the project preparation phase, the city is selecting a consulting unit to prepare a pre-feasibility study report, and is expected to approve the project investment policy by the end of 2025. Can Tho City hopes that by mid-2026, it will be able to sign a loan agreement.

Mr. Nguyen Van Hoa further informed the ADB delegation that Can Tho City has 3 projects included by the Prime Minister in the Mekong DPO project (project for sustainable development of the Mekong Delta adapting to climate change, using foreign loans). The city hopes that ADB will support more non-refundable aid with 2 components (component of improving technical capacity and project management capacity).

Article and photos: ANH KHOA

Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/xuc-tien-dau-tu-du-an-duong-bo-cai-thien-lien-ket-vung-dbscl-a192956.html