Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc and other delegates attend the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the Mỹ Thuận-Cần Thơ Expressway on Monday. VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

VĨNH LONG — A groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the Mỹ Thuận-Cần Thơ Expressway, an important project in the Mekong Delta region's transport system, was held in Vĩnh Long Province on Monday.

The Mỹ Thuận-Cần Thơ Expressway is part of the Eastern section of the North-South Expressway project. It has a total investment of nearly VND4.9 billion (US$211 million) and is expected to be completed in 2022.

The 23km expressway will pass through Vĩnh Long and Đồng Tháp provinces. It starts from the Mỹ Thuận Bridge 2 in Vĩnh Long City’s Tân Hòa Ward and ends at Chà Và intersection, connecting to National Highway No.1 in Bình Minh Town’s Thuận An Commune.

Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Minister of Transport, Nguyễn Nhật said the project will help reduce overloads on National Highway No 1 and push up economic development while securing national defence and security for the Mekong Delta province, gradually accomplishing the expressway system.

The completion of the project together with HCM City-Trung Lương, Trung Lương-Mỹ Thuận Expressways and Mỹ Thuận 2 Bridge will create a key transport line from HCM City to Cần Thơ City. It will shorten travel time between the two cities to two hours instead of three to four hours as at present.

Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc emphasised that the project plays a vital role in the development of the Mekong Delta, saying the Government has approved to shift from build-operate-transfer mode to using public investment given the country’s economy still faces a lot of difficulties.

This is aimed at reducing cost for transport goods in the Mekong Delta, helping the realisation of the Government’s Resolution No. 120/NQ-CP on sustainable and climate-resilient development of the Mekong Delta. 

The PM asked the Ministry of Transport, investor and units involved in the implementation to ensure the progress of the project as well as the quality.

He welcomed the commitment from Vĩnh Long and Đồng Tháp provinces to complete the site clearance to hand over land to investors. The PM also asked the two provinces to quickly build resettlement areas to quickly stabilise the lives of local people who have given up their land to make way for the project. — VNS