The Prime Minister requested that the upgrading of expressways with phased investment be expedited.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has just signed Official Dispatch No. 16/CD-TTg dated February 21, 2024, to accelerate research and implementation of investment in upgrading existing and phased-scale expressways.
Official dispatch sent to: Ministers of the Ministries of Public Security, Transport, Planning and Investment, Finance, Science and Technology, Natural Resources and Environment, Agriculture and Rural Development; Chairman of the State Capital Management Committee at enterprises; Chairmen of the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities.
The 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam identified infrastructure development as one of the three strategic breakthroughs, creating new development space, driving forces, promoting socio-economic development, and ensuring national defense and security. It set a target of having approximately 5,000 km of expressways nationwide by 2030. In recent years, the central and local governments have been very proactive in implementing expressway construction projects. To date, nearly 1,900 km of expressways have been put into operation nationwide, and efforts are being made to have over 3,000 km of expressways by 2025.
The capital requirements for investing in the expressway system are enormous, while resources are limited. To meet the socio-economic development needs of localities and regions, the Ministry of Transport and local authorities are researching and proposing phased investment in several expressway routes. The early commissioning of these expressways has contributed to socio-economic development; however, the operation of these phased expressways still faces some limitations, such as potential risks of traffic accidents, congestion, and traffic accidents (like the accident that occurred on February 18, 2024, on the Cam Lo - La Son expressway).
Prioritize investment in the earliest stages for expressways with two lanes.
The Prime Minister has issued numerous directives to ministries and agencies to study and address these shortcomings. To promptly implement effective and timely solutions, immediately rectify existing problems and limitations, enhance traffic safety, and improve the efficiency of expressways, the Prime Minister requests:
1. Minister of Transport
a) Direct relevant agencies to immediately study solutions for rational, scientific, and effective traffic organization and the best possible control of traffic activities to ensure traffic safety on phased-out expressways, and to protect the lives, health, and property of the people;
b) Immediately take the lead and coordinate with relevant localities to urgently study investment and upgrading options for expressways that have been phased in, aiming to achieve full expressway status, in accordance with design standards and transportation needs, as directed by the Prime Minister in the aforementioned documents; focusing on investing in expressways with 2 lanes as early as possible. Simultaneously, review and supplement all necessary and synchronized infrastructure along the route (such as intelligent transportation systems, rest stops, etc.); report to the Prime Minister in March 2024;
c) Urgently coordinate with the Minister of Science and Technology to direct the development and promulgation of the National Technical Standard on Expressways in the first quarter of 2024, as a basis for organizing the planning, design, investment management, construction, and safe and efficient operation of expressways;
d) Expeditiously organize the acceptance and final settlement of phased highway investment projects according to regulations to promptly implement investment and upgrade them to full highway standards and regulations;
d) To chair and coordinate with localities in determining the scope, boundaries, and area of land already cleared, and the area requiring further land clearance for investment and upgrading of expressways to achieve full expressway status, especially for expressways with 2 lanes.
Propose early allocation of funds for phased investment in upgrading existing expressways.
2. Chairpersons of the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities shall urgently study and propose investment and upgrading plans for expressways that have been and are being invested in according to phased plans, and submit them to the Ministry of Transport before March 15, 2024; and closely coordinate with the Ministry of Transport to review and implement land clearance work to serve the investment and upgrading of expressways.
3. The Chairman of the State Capital Management Committee at Enterprises directs the Vietnam Expressway Investment and Development Corporation (VEC) to urgently research and propose investment and upgrading plans for the expressways currently under its management and operation, according to phased plans, and submit them to the Ministry of Transport before March 15, 2024.
4. The Minister of Planning and Investment shall proactively coordinate with the Minister of Transport, the Minister of Finance, and the Chairpersons of the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities to propose the allocation of funds for the early implementation of phased upgrades to existing expressways.
5. The Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, and the Chairpersons of the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities shall coordinate with the Minister of Transport to direct the review of land clearance needs and the use of forest land and rice land to promptly develop plans for land use conversion, compensation, support, and resettlement in accordance with regulations, ensuring the progress of investment in upgrading expressways.
Continue to review potential traffic accident hotspots in order to promptly address them.
6. The Ministry of Public Security directs the strengthening of propaganda, inspection, control, and strict punishment of acts causing traffic safety hazards and violations of traffic laws; coordinating with the Ministry of Transport to continue reviewing "black spots" and potential accident locations to promptly address and minimize unfortunate traffic accidents.
7. Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha is assigned to directly supervise ministries, agencies, and localities in implementing the tasks assigned by the Prime Minister in this Official Dispatch, in order to accelerate the progress of investment in upgrading existing and planned expressways.
8. The Government Office shall monitor and urge the implementation of this Directive, and promptly compile and report any arising issues to the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha.
Ministries, departments, localities, agencies, and relevant units are urged to promptly implement the tasks assigned in this Official Dispatch./.
