Workers speed up construction on Quản Lộ - Phụng Hiệp National Highway, which runs through Hậu Giang, Sóc Trăng, Bạc Liêu and Cà Mau provinces. — Photo courtesy of Ministry of Transport

MEKONG DELTA — Contractors and workers expect to complete construction of several major transport projects in the Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta before Tết (Lunar New Year Festival), which falls on February 12 next year.

Despite the rainy season, the contractors are speeding up work on the upgrade of the 103km Quản Lộ-Phụng Hiệp National Highway that runs through the provinces of Hậu Giang, Sóc Trăng, Bạc Liêu and Cà Mau.

The upgrade is divided into six packages.

Construction of packages XL1 and XL2 began in February, while XL3, XL4, XL5 and XL6 packages began in May.

Hoàng Thái Ngọc from Thi Sơn Company, the contractor of package XL1, said about 40 officers, technicians and workers are working at the construction site for a 20km section of the highway.

About 18km of the section have been widened and asphalt has been poured, while the 2km remaining section has been covered by macadam.

“If the weather is favorable, our work will be completed in October or November, three months ahead of schedule,” Ngọc said.

Nguyễn Thành Quang of CP Company, contractor of package XL2, said that it had poured asphalt on 9km of a 25km section of the highway. The work is expected to be finished by the end of October, he said.

The XL3, XL4, XL5 packages have covered the road’s surface with sand and have started applying a layer of macadam.

Construction of the packages has been divided into 300m sections to ensure traffic safety.

Mobilising a sufficient number of workers, machinery and equipment has been difficult because of the impact of the second COVID-19 outbreak in the country.

There is also a shortage of materials used in road building, such as asphalt, concrete, stone and sand, in the delta.

The contractors have made efforts to ensure that the work progresses on schedule. They are also taking advantage of weather conditions to work overtime to compensate for the slow progress.

The upgrade of the highway is expected to be completed before Tết.

The highway will ease traffic from Hậu Giang Province to Cà Mau Province. It will shorten the travel distance by nearly 50km compared with the National Highway No.1A.

The project on upgrading National Highway No.53 on a 43.8km section from Châu Thành District to Duyên Hải Town in Trà Vinh Province is also under construction.

It is divided into six packages. Contractors are speeding up the progress of the packages. It includes rebuilding 12.3 km and widening 31.5 km, and building two new bridges and expanding five existing bridges on the section.

About 35 per cent of the project’s construction volume has been completed.

Contractors aim to finish construction of packages XL1 and XL2 in January, and XL3, XL4, XL5 and XL6 packages in May.

The upgrade of National Highway No.53 will meet transport demand and socio-economic development in Trà Vinh Province and enhance connectivity among delta provinces.

The work on the 55.1km Trung Lương-Mỹ Thuận Expressway between Tiền Giang Province near HCM City and Cần Thơ City, and the 51km Lộ Tẻ-Rạch Sỏi Highway between Cần Thơ City and Kiên Giang Province, are expected to be completed before the Tết holiday.

The project to upgrade and expand four small bridges on National Highway No.1A through Tiền Giang Province is expected to open for traffic before Tết.

The completion of these projects is expected to shorten the travel time between HCM City and the Mekong Delta region and reduce traffic on National Highway 1A during peak hours and holidays. — VNS