Prime Minister Chính Inspects Key Expressway Projects in Mekong Delta

Mekong Delta, The Gulf Observer: Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính on Monday conducted an on-site inspection of two major expressway projects in the Mekong Delta — the Châu Đốc – Cần Thơ – Sóc Trăng expressway and the Cao Lãnh – An Hữu expressway — and issued directives to address bottlenecks and expedite construction progress.

The Châu Đốc – Cần Thơ – Sóc Trăng expressway spans 188.2 kilometers across four provinces and is being developed in phases as a four-lane route. Groundbreaking was held on June 17, 2023, with substantial completion targeted for 2026 and full operation expected by 2027. The expressway comprises four independent sub-projects managed by the respective provincial authorities.

During his field visit, the Prime Minister inspected Package No. 42 of Sub-project 1 under Phase 1, which passes through An Giang Province. Contractors reported that the 16.92-kilometre section is scheduled for completion by June 30, 2026.

Praising An Giang’s efforts in land clearance, PM Chính highlighted that key construction materials are now secured and called for an accelerated schedule. He urged that technical completion be achieved by December 19, 2025, noting that early delivery would reduce the Incremental Capital-Output Ratio (ICOR), open new development corridors, and increase land value.

Meanwhile, the Cao Lãnh – An Hữu expressway, in its first phase, stretches 27.43 kilometers and is divided into two sub-projects with a total investment exceeding VNĐ7.49 trillion (US$286.37 million), funded by the state budget.

Sub-project 1, 16 kilometers long and managed by the People’s Committee of Đồng Tháp Province, commenced in June 2023 and is expected to be completed by 2026. Sub-project 2, covering more than 11 kilometers and managed by Tiền Giang Province, began construction on August 12, 2024, with completion slated for 2027.

At the construction sites, Prime Minister Chính instructed local authorities to compress the construction timeline, aiming for Sub-project 1 to be operational by December 19, 2025, and Sub-project 2 by April 30, 2026. He also ordered that the full four-lane expressway be completed immediately, foregoing the previously planned limited-width version.

To meet the demands of the expedited schedule, the Prime Minister tasked the Ministry of Finance with swiftly completing the necessary procedures to allocate additional funding. He also directed provinces with available stone reserves, particularly An Giang, to adjust extraction volumes in favour of these priority projects.

Furthermore, PM Chính called on contractors to mobilize more labour and equipment, stressing that the timely and efficient completion of these key infrastructure projects would significantly contribute to regional connectivity, economic growth, and national development.