HCM City will spend VNĐ55 billion (US$2.3 million) to maintain and repair the HCM City-Trung Lương expressway. — VNS Photo Ngọc Diệp

HCM CITY—  HCM City will spend an additional VNĐ55 billion (US$2.3 million) to repair and maintain the HCM City-Trung Lương expressway.

Nguyễn Văn Thành, head of the Department of Road Management No 4, said that recently the city had spent VNĐ22 billion to repair a section of the expressway.

In April, the department would spend more VNĐ55 billion to continue the work.

After more than 10 years of operation, the expressway has deteriorated because of severe cracks caused by container trucks.

The expressway is a key connection between HCM City and the Cửu Long Delta region. It passes through HCM City, Long An and Tiền Giang, shortening the travelling time from the biggest city in the southern region to Tiền Giang by two thirds, down to 30 minutes from 90 minutes before.

Although the expressway is regularly maintained, there are still a number of deteriorated sections that make travelling difficult.

Nguyễn Thế Hùng, a driver from Bến Tre Province, said that normally it took only 30 minutes to travel on the expressway, but now due to deterioration, it would take 60 minutes. VNS