Mekong Delta authorities have suggested three route plans for construction of the Cần Thơ - Cà Mau expressway. Photo courtesy of sggp.org.vn

HCM CITY – Mekong Delta authorities have proposed three route options for building the 150-km long Cần Thơ - Cà Mau expressway.

Deputy Minister of Transport Nguyễn Nhật this week met with leaders from the southern provinces of Cần Thơ, Hậu Giang, Sóc Trăng, Bạc Liêu and Cà Mau to discuss the expressway proposal.

At the meeting, a representative of the project’s consulting unit suggested building the expressway between Cần Thơ City and Cà Mau Province. It would have four lanes, with a maximum speed of 100km per hour.

Under the scheme, three route plans were proposed.

While the first plan calls for an upgrade of Quản Lộ - Phụng Hiệp National Highway and construction of two more lanes in the opposite direction, the second plan requires construction of an expressway parallel to the Phụng Hiệp National Highway, and the third asks for a completely new route.

The vice chairman of the Cần Thơ City People’s Committee, Dương Tấn Hiển, said that options one and two were consistent with Mekong Delta transport planning approved by the Prime Minister. 

Option two would further promote connectivity among the main cities of Hậu Giang, Sóc Trăng and Bạc Liêu provinces, which is important for economic development of the entire region.

The vice chairman of the Sóc Trăng Province's People’s Committee, Lâm Hoàng Nghiệp, and leaders from Bạc Liêu and Cà Mau provinces agreed with Hiển on option two, worth VNĐ61,000 billion (US$2.6 million). 

They added that option one would potentially pose some technical problems, and option three would make it inconvenient for Sóc Trăng and Bạc Liêu provinces to stay connected with the expressway. 

Earlier, Prime Minister approved building the Cần Thơ - Cà Mau expressway between 2021 and 2025. The entire expressway would be divided into two sections, one being Cần Thơ - Bạc Liêu and another Bạc Liêu - Cà Mau. 

Speaking at the meeting, Nhật said the Ministry of Transport would collect feedback from localities and complete a report by the end of this month. – VNS