Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính examines the coastal area of Bến Tre Province on February 15. — VNA/VNS Photo

BẾN TRE — An inter-provincial coastal road connecting Bến Tre with other southern localities will be constructed in the 2023-25 period with an investment of more than VNĐ13 trillion.

Cao Minh Đức, director of the provincial Department of Transport, said the road would cover 53km and cross three major rivers - Tiền, Hàm Luông, and Cổ Chiên, connecting Bến Tre Province with Tiền Giang and Trà Vinh provinces.

The road will start at provincial road No. 877B in Tân Phú Đông District of Tiền Giang Province and end at Thạnh Phú Bridge in Châu Thành District, Trà Vinh Province.

The investment will be sourced from the Official Development Assistance fund, which supports the sustainable development of the Mekong Delta, and the provincial budget.

The project will be divided into two phases. The first phase will run from now until 2025 and will include the construction of 13 bridges and a two-lane road with an investment of more than VNĐ13 trillion.

After 2025, the road will be upgraded, with the road surface expanded. The total investment for this phase will be VNĐ15 trillion.

The Bến Tre Province coastal road is part of the 740km southern road project that stretches from Hà Tiên City, Kiên Giang Province, to HCM City. It was approved by the Government 13 years ago and runs through seven Mekong Delta localities - Tiền Giang, Bến Tre, Trà Vinh, Sóc Trăng, Bạc Liêu, Cà Mau and Kiên Giang.

Official from the provincial Department of Transport Đức said the Bến Tre Province coastal road is the meeting point of national transport projects. The transport network is expected to be completed in the 2025-30 period will form the Long Xuyên quadrangle area to connect with the HCM City-Trung Lương-Mỹ Thuận-Cần Thơ expressway network.

During a working visit last week to Bến Tre Province, Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính examined the project.

Once the road is completed, it will shorten the distance between Mekong Delta provinces and HCM City and help reduce traffic congestion and accidents. VNS