Construction on Dầu Giây-Phan Thiết Expressway is expected to start in the third quarter. It is expected to reduce traffic congestion on Highway No. 1A. — VNA/VNS Photo Hoàng Hải

ĐỒNG NAI — Construction on the Dầu Giây-Phan Thiết Expressway is expected to start in the third quarter, according to Nguyễn Ngọc Đông, deputy minister of transport.

Đông spoke at a meeting held earlier this week between the ministry and the province's People’s Committee to discuss the progress of ground clearance for the expressway project.

Đông instructed Thăng Long Project Management Board to work with Xuân Lộc District People’s Committee to promptly make a plan to resettle people affected by the project.

The board will be responsible for removing technical infrastructure and working with local authorities to address site clearance problems so that land can be handed over soon.

The 99-km expressway is part of the North-South Expressway. It will start in Mỹ Thạnh Commune in the south-central coastal province of Bình Thuận on Highway No.1A and connect with the HCM City-Long Thành-Dầu Giây Expressway in Thống Nhất District in the southeastern province of Đồng Nai. 

The new expressway will go through the districts of Xuân Lộc, Cẩm Mỹ and Thống Nhất and Long Khánh City in Đồng Nai Province.

The People’s Committee said the province would take back more than 412ha of land in these districts. The committee has taken back land plots in three districts where residents have received compensation.

In Xuân Lộc District, at least 322 households have received compensation, while 350 others are waiting for the Ministry of Transport’s approval on the second compensation phase.

The Dầu Giây-Phan Thiết Expressway will shorten travel time from HCM City to Bình Thuận to 1.5-2 hours from six or seven hours.

For a flyover project over Dầu Giây intersection, Đông instructed Project Management Board No.7 to transfer money for compensation to the Thống Nhất District People’s Committee to clear the land and hand it over by May 20.  — VNS