On October 1, Vietnam Expressway Corporation (VEC) held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Noi Bai - Lao Cai Expressway expansion project, from Yen Bai to Lao Cai.
This is a national key transport project, which is of great significance in synchronizing the entire longest expressway in Vietnam, meeting the increasing demand for traffic.
The Noi Bai - Lao Cai Expressway, phase 1, is 245 km long and has been put into operation since 2014, passing through the provinces of Hanoi, Phu Tho, Yen Bai and Lao Cai.
The route has created a breakthrough in traffic infrastructure by shortening the travel time from Hanoi - Lao Cai from 7 hours to 3.5 hours. At the same time, it will open up opportunities for strong development of import-export, trade, service and tourism activities in the Northwest region.
However, after more than 10 years of operation, the average traffic volume has increased by about 10%/year.
In particular, the Yen Bai - Lao Cai section has only 2 lanes, so there are often congestion during rush hour, posing a potential risk to traffic safety. Therefore, expanding this section of the route becomes an urgent requirement to synchronize with the entire route.
According to the design, the expansion project has a total length of 121.33 km, from Km123+080 (IC13) to Km244+155 (IC18). The route will be upgraded from 2 lanes to 4 complete lanes, including roadbed, road surface, bridge system, tunnel, drainage and auxiliary works.
The total investment is more than VND 7,668 billion, of which VND 3,000 billion is from the state budget, the rest is mobilized by VEC. The project is expected to be basically completed in 2026.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, Chairman of Lao Cai Provincial People's Committee Tran Huy Tuan emphasized that the Noi Bai - Lao Cai Expressway Phase 1 has brought great benefits, creating conditions for connection, attracting investment and developing tourism.
The expansion of the Yen Bai - Lao Cai section is an important step, not only reducing congestion, ensuring traffic safety but also improving transportation capacity, creating momentum to promote socio-economic development, border trade and strengthening national defense and security.
Lao Cai province affirmed that it will focus on directing relevant departments, branches and localities to closely coordinate with investors, speed up site clearance, material supply and ensure security and order throughout the construction process, contributing to completing the project on schedule.
