HCM CITY — Deputy Prime Minister Trịnh Đình Dũng has urged the two ministries overseeing the Trung Lương-Mỹ Thuận expressway project to speed up construction of the Mỹ Thuận-Cần Thơ stretch so that the entire road can be open to traffic by 2019.

Dũng asked the Ministry of Transport to approve a feasibility study of the Mỹ Thuận-Cần Thơ stretch last month, according to the Government Office.

To resolve any hurdles during the construction process, he has urged the ministry to choose experienced contractors and propose measures to resolve problems for approval to the Prime Minister.

He said the Mỹ Thuận-Cần Thơ stretch should open at the same time as the Trung Lương-Mỹ Thuận stretch in 2019.

Dũng also told authorities in localities where the road section traverses to coordinate with the Ministry of Transport and investors in site clearance, compensation and resettlement.

In addition, agencies, investors and consultants should work with local authorities to step up progress to ensure quality and labour safety.

Dũng has demanded that all agencies must ensure that the project would not affect the environment.

Construction on the Trung Lương-Mỹ Thuận stretch began in 2015 and is expected to be completed in 2019.

The Trung Lương-Mỹ Thuận expressway is 50 kilometres long, and it connects to the HCM City-Trung Lương expressway in Châu Thành District in Tiền Giang Province.

The expressway also connects to Highway 30 in Cái Bè District in Tiền Giang.

The project under the BOT (Build-Operate-Transfer) model has an investment of VNĐ14.7 trillion (US$646.3 million).

The four-lane expressway is 14 metres wide and has four intersections and flyovers.

Construction of the expressway has affected 2,300 households in 26 communes and wards from five districts and towns in Tiền Giang.

The expressway’s Trung Lương-Mỹ Thuận stretch extends to Cần Thơ city. — VNS