Bà Rịa- Vũng Tàu Province authorities are set to do a pre-feasibility study for the Biên Hòa-Vũng Tàu expressway. — VNA/VNS Photo

VŨNG TÀU — The Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu People’s Committee has held a meeting to discuss the Biên Hòa-Vũng Tàu Expressway project with the construction consultant, Transport Engineering Design Inc, and related entities.

The meeting was held after the Government gave approval last month for the province to do a pre-feasibility study for the expressway.

At the meeting, Nguyễn Văn Thọ, chairman of the province's People’s Committee, directed the Department of Transport to work with related units to furnish up-to-date reports to help complete the study and submit to the Government.

According to the consultant, the project will cost VNĐ26 trillion (US$1.1 billion), including VNĐ6.8 trillion for land. 

The expressway will have a length of 77.8km and be constructed in two phases.

The first phase, of 46.8km, will run between Biên Hòa City in Đồng Nai Province and Phú Mỹ Town in Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu. It will cost VNĐ9.3 trillion ($400 million).

The second phase of 31km will link Phú Mỹ with Vũng Tàu City.

The first phase will open to traffic with four lanes but two more will be added when the expressway is completed.

The construction, under a public-private-partnership model, is scheduled to start next year and take four years.

The private partner will be selected through bidding this year.

Lương Văn Tuấn, deputy director of the transport department, said the highway is required to reduce congestion on National Route No 51, the current main route from HCM City to Vũng Tàu.

It is also expected to improve the productivity of Cái Mép-Thị Vải Port and create strong links between Vũng Tàu-Đồng Nai and western provinces, he added. — VNS