A damaged section of National Highway No 19 in Gia Lai Province. Upgrades to the highway will start by the end of this year. — Photo laodong.vn

HCM CITY — The upgrade of National Highway No 19 in the Tây Nguyên (Central Highlands) region is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of this year.

The highway is the main road connecting the Central Highlands region with the central coast, but many sections are damaged or degraded.

The 247km highway runs from Quy Nhơn City in the central province of Bình Định to Lệ Thanh International Border Gate in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai, and links national highways No 24 and No 25.

The upgrade aims to boost logistics and transport along the East-West Economic Corridor.

The work is estimated to cost around VNĐ3.7 trillion (US$155 million), of which $150 million will come from the World Bank loans and the rest from the Government.

The highway section will be repaired and widened to 9-15m with four lanes.

Two bypasses will be built around An Khê Town and Pleiku City in Gia Lai Province.

The ministry’s Management Board of Construction Investment Project No 2 has been assigned to carry out the work.

Construction is scheduled to be completed in 2023. — VNS