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Ring Road 2 - Nhat Tan Bridge is an important traffic axis contributing to promoting the socio-economic development of Hanoi City. Photo: Pham Hung

A series of key projects accelerated

The 13th National Party Congress continued to identify building a synchronous infrastructure system as one of three strategic breakthroughs, prioritizing developing several key national projects on transportation adaptation to climate change. The practice has proven that transportation in general and highways, airports and ports affect socio-economic development. Wherever traffic develops, new space for socio-economic development will open up, many urban areas, industrial, service and tourism zones will be formed, and the land fund will be exploited effectively.

The resolution of the 13th Party Congress sets a goal that by 2030, the whole country should strive to have about 5,000 km of expressways (to complete this goal, by 2025, we need to achieve 3,000 km, and by 2026 - 2030, strive to have an additional 2,000 km of expressway.

To realize this goal, many key transportation projects have been constructed and put into use. In May 2023, two North-South expressway component projects, phase 1, Nha Trang - Cam Lam and Vinh Hao - Phan Thiet expressway, with a total investment of about 24,700 billion VND, were put into use, bringing the total length of expressways across the country to nearly 1,600 km.

The Ministry of Transport said that after the two new expressways are implemented, they will connect Khanh Hoa, Ninh Thuan, and Binh Thuan provinces to Ho Chi Minh City and southern provinces. Thereby creating conditions for expanding development space, economic activities, regional connectivity, and reducing load on National Highway 1. It is expected that by the end of 2023, there will be 3 more North-South expressway component projects phase 1 put into use, including National Highway 45 - Nghi Son, Nghi Son - Dien Chau and My Thuan 2 bridge.

Notably, in June 2023, the Ministry of Transport and localities started constructing 5 key expressway projects: Bien Hoa - Vung Tau, Khanh Hoa - Buon Ma Thuot, Chau Doc - Can Tho. Tho-Soc Trang, Ring Road 3 of Ho Chi Minh City and Ring Road 4 - Capital Region, bringing the total number of highways started from the beginning of the year to 1,332 km.

Expectations take off

Experts say these are important transportation projects connecting inter-regional, intra-regional, and nationwide traffic connections. These projects are infrastructure breakthroughs to compensate and accelerate development in the coming time.

National Assembly Delegate Nguyen Anh Tri, Hanoi National Assembly Delegation, assessed that implementing the Ring Road 4 - Capital Region project will bring enormous direct and indirect economic efficiency. The effectiveness of the project will bring benefits in terms of land rent, key economic development, and regional strengths. The Ring Road 4 project's value is huge in expanding development space and reducing traffic load. Therefore, investment to soon complete this project is extremely necessary.

Evaluating the expressway projects in the Southern region, including Bien Hoa - Vung Tau, Khanh Hoa - Buon Ma Thuot, Chau Doc - Can Tho - Soc Trang expressway, Ho Chi Minh City Ring Road 3 being put into construction, Dr. Nguyen Huu Nguyen, Vietnam Urban Planning and Development Association, said: "It has been a long time since the southern region has witnessed such strong movements in transport infrastructure. For many years, in the southern key economic region, the Mekong Delta region has been somewhat "disadvantaged" compared to the northern provinces in terms of transportation network. Sluggish transport infrastructure for many years "tied up" the economy, slowing the speed of urban formation and development. Therefore, the simultaneous commencement of key projects recently is realizing the policy of strengthening the transportation network for the southern provinces and cities. This is the right direction that the National Assembly and the Government have also determined for a long-term, sustainable development vision."

According to Dr Nguyen Huu Nguyen, these projects are much more meaningful when implemented at the right economic stage of Ho Chi Minh City and the whole country, which is going through difficulties. Large construction sites began operating, meaning construction materials were simultaneously mobilized, workers and contractors simultaneously had jobs, and the transportation system had orders Behind that, there was also much work for the logistics service team. Many other industries will be activated as a powerful economic breakthrough.

At the meeting of the Steering Committee for key works and projects in the transport sector on July 13, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh requested units to take drastic action and focus on removing difficulties. Obstacles to speed up the progress of starting and constructing 25 important national transportation projects, with 75 component projects. In particular, the Prime Minister requested to start constructing the Long Thanh airport terminal in August 2023.