Quang Tri accelerates major transport infrastructure projects

In the province, there are several key transportation projects currently underway and planned for implementation, such as the Coastal Road connecting the East-West Economic Corridor, the Cam Lo-Lao Bao Expressway, National Highway 15D, and the Eastern Bypass of Dong Ha City. When operational, these transportation routes will significantly contribute to promoting socio-economic development and ensuring national security and defense.

The construction unit is currently working on the Thach Han 1 Bridge, part of the Coastal Road project connecting the East-West Economic Corridor - Photo: Tu Linh

The Coastal Road connecting the East-West Economic Corridor in Quang Tri province has been approved for investment in Phase 1 through Resolution No. 40/NQ-HDND on May 12, 2021, and the technical study report has been approved by Decision No. 4282/QD-UBND on December 17, 2021. The total investment for Phase 1 is VND2.06 trillion (US$83.5 million), with a project duration from 2021 to 2026.

Upon completion, this project will seamlessly connect with the national coastal road network, facilitating links to seaports and economic zones, enhancing disaster resilience, and supporting search and rescue efforts. It will also create conditions for the development of coastal urban areas and tourism services, connecting the Southeast Quang Tri Economic Zone with the East-West Economic Corridor.

Currently, four construction packages of the project are in progress, with specific sections already handed over for construction. Package VB-XL01 is constructing two bridges (at Km7 + 254 and Km10 + 729), VB-XL02 is working on a 2km-long road foundation, VB-XL03 has completed the Trieu Trach Bridge and is awaiting land handover, and VB-XL04 is constructing Thach Han 1 and Thach Han 2 bridges.

National Highway 9 intersects with the Eastern Bypass of Dong Ha City, passing through the area of Gio Quang commune, Gio Linh district. - Photo: T.T

Approximately 2,541 households are affected by the project, and the Provincial Investment Project Management Board is actively coordinating with Dong Ha City and the districts of Trieu Phong, Gio Linh, and Vinh Linh to carry out compensation, support, and resettlement. The goal is to complete the land handover to the construction contractors by 2024.

The Cam Lo-Lao Bao Expressway project was identified by the Prime Minister as part of the national high-speed road development plan in Decision No. 326/QD-TTg on March 1, 2016. It was approved for investment under the public-private partnership (PPP) model, with the Quang Tri Provincial People’s Committee as the authorized agency.

The investment report for the Cam Lo-Lao Bao Expressway was prepared by Son Hai Group Limited Liability Company (Son Hai Group). The completed feasibility study report indicates a 56km-long expressway with four lanes and a total investment (excluding interest during construction) of VND13.7 trillion ($555.6 million).

Overpass for National Highway 15D, located on the section spanning the Cam Lộ - La Sơn expressway. - Photo: T.Tuyen

Investing in the Cam Lo-Lao Bao Expressway opens up significant connectivity and development possibilities for Quang Tri province. It strategically transforms the East-West Economic Corridor from a mere transportation corridor into a practical economic corridor, facilitating connections between Vietnam and regional countries, linking the Pacific and Indian Oceans and reducing transportation distances by over 200 km compared to other corridors. It particularly aids in disaster response, minimizing traffic accidents.

The Prime Minister has approved the PPP approach for the section of National Highway 15D from Quoc Lo 1 to the Ho Chi Minh Road (Western branch). The Quang Tri People’s Committee has assigned a consortium consisting of Hoanh Son Group Joint Stock Company, Phonesack Vietnam Limited Liability Company, and Nam Tien Limited Liability Company to conduct a feasibility study for this project.

The completed proposal for the section from Cam Lo-La Son to the Ho Chi Minh Road has been submitted, with a design featuring a Grade III mountainous road, a 9m-wide road base, a 7m-wide road surface, and two tunnels with a total length of 4.37 km. The total investment for this section is VND6.7 trillion ($271.7 million).

For the section from Quoc Lo 1 to Cam Lo-La Son, the consortium is actively conducting research, surveys, and additional studies to complete the overall feasibility study for the investment in the construction of National Highway 15D from Quoc Lo 1 to Ho Chi Minh Road. It is expected to complete the dossier in March 2024.

Once completed, this project will establish another corridor parallel to the East-West Economic Corridor, enhancing the flow of goods through the La Lay International Border Gate. It will connect the North Central and Central Coastal regions with Northern Laos, and Northeast Thailand, forming a development triangle for Vietnam-Laos-Cambodia. This will shorten the route from the La Lay International Border Gate to the seaport by approximately 92 km, support the annual transportation of about 10 million tons of coal from Laos to Vietnam, and connect the Southeast Economic Zone of Quang Tri province.

The Eastern Bypass of Dong Ha City has a total length of 17.56 km, with a 13.3 km section from Mieu Slope to National Highway 9 (in Gio Linh district) and a 4.26 km section from the South of Hieu River Bridge to Nguyen Hoang Street (in Dong Ha City). The total investment for the former is 399.96 billion VND, and for the latter, it is VND230 billion ($9.32 million). The road is designed as a Grade III plain road, with a 12m-wide road base and an 11m-wide asphalt concrete surface.

As for the construction progress, the section from Mieu Slope to National Highway 9 commenced on January 6, 2024, with an expected completion date of December 31, 2024. The construction is undertaken by a consortium of Thanh An Joint Stock Company, Manh Linh Construction Limited Liability Company, 873-Joint Stock Company, and Truong Danh Joint Stock Company. The allocated budget for the project until the end of 2024 is over VND247 billion ($10 million), with accumulated disbursements reaching more than VND129 billion ($5.2 million).

Currently, the contractors are executing excavation and soil compaction for the road foundation from km10+300 to km10+700 and from km11+131 to km13+294. The section from the South of Hieu River Bridge to the Nguyen Hoang Street junction is finalizing the procedures for approving the construction design drawings and estimates, and simultaneously undergoing the review of the contractor selection plan.

This transportation project plays a crucial role in creating a bypass through Dong Ha and Gio Linh urban areas, directing and limiting vehicle traffic through the city center, contributing significantly to ensuring traffic safety, gradually perfecting the province’s transportation infrastructure, promoting socio-economic development, and ensuring national security and defense.

In the province’s overall development strategy, the approach of “advancing transportation as a priority” has been identified to stimulate progress. The shaping and gradual perfection of both domestic and international transportation infrastructure are opening up numerous opportunities for attracting investments. This presents an opportunity for Quang Tri to actualize its socioeconomic development goals, vigorously promote the growth of industries, tourism, and logistics services, and emerge as a key economic sector. Particularly noteworthy is the government’s planning to position Quang Tri as one of the three focal points for coastal economic development nationwide. This region is envisioned to serve as a pivotal hub for goods transportation heading north, south, and west through ASEAN countries, and towards the East Sea.

Tran Tuyen - Ngoc Mai