First section of Danang-Quang Ngai Expressway opened to traffic

First section of Danang-Quang Ngai Expressway opened to traffic

First section of Danang-Quang Ngai Expressway opened to traffic

Le Anh

HCMC – The Vietnam Expressway Corporation (VEC) on August 2 opened to traffic the first 65 kilometers of Danang-Quang Ngai Expressway, the first expressway in central Vietnam.

The expressway has four lanes with a width of 24.25 meters in the first phase and allows for a maximum speed of 120 kilometers per hour. The section connected to Highway 1A is 12 meters wide and allows for a maximum speed of 80 kilometers per hour.

The first phase requires a total investment of US$1.64 billion, equivalent to VND34.5 trillion, including US$798.6 million lent by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and US$590.4 million by the World Bank. Land clearance, demining, value added tax (VAT) payment and project management costs are sourced from the nation’s reciprocal capital.

VEC said the project to construct the 65-kilometer section from Tuy Loan in Danang City to Tam Ky City of Quang Nam Province was divided into eight main packages and five supporting packages.

Despite a shortage of capital, the investor has completed all components on time, including a tunnel under Eo Mountain, 59 bridges with a total length of seven kilometers including 52 bridges on the main route, four interchanges in Tuy Loan, My Son, Ha Lam and Tam Ky, four toll stations and a main operation center in Tuy Loan.

To build the first 65 kilometers of expressway, 560 hectares of land was taken back and 9,300 households were relocated. About 80 public facilities were also removed.

The section completed after four years of construction will help shorten travel time between Danang City and Tam Ky City to 30 minutes.

VEC will collect toll fees ranging from VND20,000 to VND380,000 each vehicle to recover the capital of the project. Remaining items are expected for completion by the end of this year.

Danang-Quang Ngai Expressway, part of the North-South Expressway project, stretches 140 kilometers, and passes through Danang, Quang Nam and Quang Ngai including a 132-kilometer section and an eight-kilometer section to connect the expressway with Highway 1A.

The expressway will help boost socio-economic development in the central region and build better transport links. It will also facilitate goods transport through Tien Sa and Lien Chieu seaports in Danang, Ky Ha port in Quang Nam and Dung Quat port in Quang Ngai.

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