In the afternoon of May 27, Mr. Truong Canh Tuyen - Chairman of Can Tho City People's Committee chaired a working session to listen to the progress report on the implementation of the Project to invest in the construction of the Chau Doc - Can Tho - Soc Trang expressway phase 1 through the city.
Expressway worth more than 31,200 billion VND faces difficulties with sand and stone
The Can Tho City Traffic and Agricultural Construction Investment Project Management Board (PMB) said that the Chau Doc - Can Tho - Soc Trang expressway construction investment project phase 1, component projects 2, 3, 4, has a length of about 132 km. Total investment is more than 31,200 billion VND.
The project has its starting point at Km57+200 in Thanh Quoi commune; the ending point at Km189+666.65 intersecting with the Nam Song Hau National Highway and the access road to Tran De port (Planning). The project has a total of 11 construction packages.
The total demand for sand filling materials for component projects 2, 3, 4 is about 16.649 million m3 of loose sand. To date, the volume of sand that has arrived at the project is about 10.579 million m3. The PMB is continuing to work with Vinh Long and An Giang provinces to ensure the source of sand to be brought to the project.
For stone materials serving 3 component projects, about 4.176 million m3 (increased due to adjustment of road pavement structure), of which about 0.878 million m3 have been gathered for the project and have been used. The PMB and the Contractor continue to contact and register needs at stone mines in Dong Nai City, Ho Chi Minh City (old Binh Duong province) to ensure material sources.
Currently, the progress of bridge construction on the route has reached and exceeded the set schedule. However, the route section still has some sections that have not reached the required schedule due to the slow arrival of sand materials at the initial construction site, and is currently urgently filling the roadbed with sand.
No shortage of money, only lack of progress
Vice Chairman of Can Tho City People's Committee Nguyen Van Hoa clearly stated that the progress of the expressway project to date has not yet met the requirements according to general directions and set goals.
According to Mr. Hoa, the Project Management Board needs to urgently work again with contractors and supervision consulting units to review the progress according to commitments. On that basis, closely monitor each construction stage to promptly remove arising problems.
Regarding the source of sand materials serving the project, leaders of Can Tho City requested that mines identified as special and licensed must increase exploitation capacity to ensure sufficient reserves for supply to the project.
Contractors are also required to review bidding documents and fully calculate the source of materials to ensure the correct implementation of contract commitments.
For sections of the route that have reached load-bearing elevation, it is necessary to inspect the entire route, specifically statistically count the Kms that have completed load-bearing and unloading to deploy the next construction items.
Mr. Nguyen Van Hoa informed that the capital allocated for the expressway project is currently abundant. In 2026 alone, the total allocated capital is 4,500 billion VND, but from the beginning of the year until now, only about 750 billion VND has been disbursed.
There is still a lot of capital, there is no shortage of money, but how to spend money, to spend money, there must be volume, and the volume must be accepted," Mr. Hoa said.
Concluding the meeting, Mr. Truong Canh Tuyen - Chairman of Can Tho City People's Committee said that the project still faces many difficulties, the biggest of which is the pressure of shortage of sand and stone materials.
Mr. Truong Canh Tuyen emphasized that despite difficulties, the city has never relaxed its responsibility. Can Tho City People's Committee has regularly worked with localities, directly signing many documents to remove difficulties and ensure material sources for the project.
Chairman of Can Tho City People's Committee requested that all units must focus on implementing the goals according to the National Assembly's Resolution, striving to basically complete the project by July 2027 and put it into official operation by the end of 2027.
Contractors urgently rebuild the construction progress according to two important milestones: July 30, 2027 and December 31, 2027; at the same time, proactively search for sand and stone sources, propose sources of material supply and increase human resources, vehicles, and equipment to serve construction.
For the Project Management Board, the Chairman of Can Tho City People's Committee requested that before May 31, it is necessary to accurately review the actual demand for sand and stone of the entire project; clearly identify the demand for sea sand; and at the same time, propose a plan to adjust the volume of materials between contractors if there is a situation of surplus in some places and shortage in others.
