Construction works for stretches of Vietnam’s massive North-South Expressway project have been approved. The 12 separate road sections will be completed by 2025, with the approval having been given by Vietnam’s Ministry of Transport (MOT).

Building work for these 12 expressway stretches will cost an estimated US$6.3 billion and extend for 724km in total. The longest of these 12 stretches will be the 352km section linking Quang Ngai to Nha Trang, the 261km section between Ha Tinh and Quang Tri and the 111km section connecting Can Tho with Ca Mau.

Meanwhile, a budget of over $342 million has been set for the first phase of the project to build the Dai Ngai Bridges project in the Mekong Delta region. Construction is due to commence in 2022 with completion expected in 2026. The new link will include two bridges and will connect Soc Trang Province with Tra Vinh Province.

The new bridges feature cable stayed designs and will be constructed in two phases, providing two lanes in either direction once the work is complete. Completion of the two bridges on the National Highway 60 route will shorten journey times for drivers between Ho Chi Minh City and the southern provinces, as well as cutting congestion on National Highway 1.