The National Highway 217 will be upgraded for traveling speeds of 60-80km per hour. Photo tapchixaydung.vn

HÀ NỘI —  The Ministry of Transport has recommended to the ministries of Planning and Investment, and Finance five projects to upgrade the national highways connecting with Laos.

The projects will be financed by loan from the World Bank (WB) of more than VNĐ8.5 trillion (US$369 million).

The projects aim to improve travelling capacity, strengthen the connection of the East-West corridor, and accelerate trade with Laos and the northeast region of Thailand.

The project of upgrading 38.6km of National Highway No. 279 starting from Điện Biên Phủ City in the northern border passing Tây Trang Border Gate to milestone No. 113 of Điện Biên District of Điện Biên Province will have total investment of VNĐ1.5 trillion (US$64.8 million).

The road will be upgraded so vehicles may travel at speeds of 60-80km per hour.

The section of National Highway 12C passing Vũng Áng-Hồ Chí Minh Trail in central provinces of Hà Tĩnh and Quảng Bình will need an investment of more than VNĐ2 trillion ($85.4 million) with a total length of 89.3km for speeds of 60-80km per hour.

The project of upgrading 59km of National Highway 217 in the central province of Thanh Hoá will be worth VNĐ2.15 trillion ($91.8 million) while the renovation of 38km of National Highway 12A in Quảng Bình and 20km of National Highway 1 and Cam Lộ-La Sơn Expressway in Quảng Trị Province will cost VNĐ1.43 trillion ($61.1 million) and VNĐ1.38 trillion ($59.2 million), respectively.

According to the ministry, within the total investment of $369 million, $292 million will be used for construction, equipment, technical design consultancy, construction design consultancy and construction supervision consulting.

Nearly $77 million will be spent on project management, construction investment consulting, site clearance, taxes, fees and other expenses.

The project implementation time is set by the Ministry of Transport from 2024 to 2028 after the funding agreement comes into effect.

Currently, the ministry is further working with the WB to seek more non-refundable aid to increase incentive value and feasibility.

According to the ministry, the renovation and upgrading of the national highways aims to improve navigation capacity, transportation needs, shorten the distance between border gates and seaports which helps reduce transport costs, environmental pollution and traffic accidents as well as serve the socio-economic development of the areas. – VNS