Workers at a construction site of the north-south expressway project. — VNA/VNS Photo Việt Hùng

HÀ NỘI — Contractors are rushing to complete the components of the north-south expressway project according to the Ministry of Transport's schedule.

The three sub-projects which are lagging behind schedule consist of Mai Sơn-National Highway 45; Vĩnh Hảo-Phan Thiết and Phan Thiết-Dầu Giây.

The average progress of the three sub-projects now has reached 76.3 per cent of the workload, according to the report from the Construction Investment Management Department.

Đặng Hùng Thái, director of Phan Thiết-Dầu Giây sub-project, said it has so far reached 92 per cent of the workload. 

With the Mai Sơn-National Highway 45 section project, the contractor has completed the foundation and some sections of the road surface, traffic safety system, and crossroads.

In order to complete these sub-projects before April 30, the department has requested contractors to continue maintaining progress, and prepare plans to provide financial resources for construction.

The Project Management Board was asked to direct the contractors to mobilise all resources, take advantage of favourable weather to construct the foundation and road surface; and install a traffic safety system as soon as the construction site is available.

After the groundbreaking ceremony of 12 components of the second phase of the north-south expressway project at the beginning of this year, the project management boards and contractors have mobilised resources to ensure the projects will be completed on schedule.

Phạm Văn Minh, deputy director of the project management board No 6 of the Vũng Áng-Bùng and Bùng-Vạn Ninh sub-projects, said the construction will be maintained throughout the Tết holiday. 

Contractors have also received advance capital for construction.

It is expected that the capital for the North-South Expressway's eastern section of its second phase (2021-2025) in 2023 will be about VNĐ44 trillion (US$1.88 billion).

In order to ensure the progress and quality of the project, the Ministry of Transport has requested contractors to make an overall construction plan for items, personnel and equipment, and report to the ministry before January 15.

The project management boards are also tasked to work closely with localities, ministries and agencies to ensure the handover of the entire remaining area for construction in the second quarter of 2023; complete the procedures for mining construction materials and dumping sites; and strictly control the quality of works.  VNS