The Huu Nghi - Chi Lang expressway project is 60 km long, with a total investment of 11,808 billion VND, passing through 7 communes and wards of Lang Son province.
The road connects Huu Nghi border gate with the Bac Giang - Lang Son expressway, and also has branches leading to Tan Thanh and Coc Nam areas.
When completed, the project will create a continuous expressway axis from Hanoi and industrial centers in the North to the Vietnam - China border, contributing to shortening the transportation time of goods.
According to information from the project enterprise, the project has completed about 74.33% of the construction contract value. The roadbed has reached over 97%, and the items of drilled piles and bridge girder casting have been completed.
Site clearance work reached 603.44 ha out of a total of 608.22 ha, equivalent to 99.21%.
However, the remaining volume is still large, concentrated in the section from Km1+800 to IC02 intersection, Tan Thanh - Coc Nam connecting route, service roads, intersections and rest stops.
The expressway leading directly to the border area is expected to create new momentum for import and export activities.
However, the increase in the number of vehicles can also put pressure on internal roads, goods inspection areas and wharves if the border gate infrastructure is not upgraded accordingly.
Mr. Bui Hai Long, a driver who regularly carries goods through Huu Nghi border gate, said that at times when the number of vehicles increases, some internal road sections often experience congestion, vehicles have to move slowly or wait to enter the check-in area.
Drivers hope that the roads in the border gate will soon be expanded and more reasonably diverted. The completed expressway will help shorten travel time, but if the border gate area is still congested, the time and transportation costs cannot be reduced much," this driver said.
To prepare to receive vehicles from the expressway, the Dong Dang - Lang Son Border Gate Economic Zone Management Board is implementing a project to upgrade and expand the main internal road of Huu Nghi border gate, the section from Km1+106.19 to Km1+838.85, about 733 m long.
This is a vital route serving the regulation and diversion of import and export and entry and exit vehicles between Vietnam and China. The upgrade aims to reduce local congestion, increase connectivity between border gates and expressways, and inspection and storage areas.
Mr. Hoang Viet Dong, Deputy Head of the Dong Dang - Lang Son Border Gate Economic Zone Management Board, said that along with the internal road, Lang Son is expanding specialized roads for transporting goods in the 1119-1120 landmark area.
The first phase has been completed, increasing the scale from 4 to 6 lanes; the next phase expands to 14 lanes, serving import and export and piloting smart border gates.
According to the project's objectives, by 2027, the customs clearance capacity in this area is expected to increase from about 800 vehicles to 2,000-2,500 vehicles per day. By 2030, the capacity can reach 3,000-3,500 vehicles per day.
In parallel with transportation projects, the province is adjusting the General Construction Plan of Dong Dang - Lang Son Border Gate Economic Zone to 2045, focusing on arranging functional sub-zones, warehouse systems, transshipment and logistics services.
The simultaneous completion of the expressway and reorganization of border gate infrastructure is expected to avoid the situation where the roads outside are clear but vehicles continue to linger in the border area, thereby improving customs clearance capacity on the Vietnam - China trade corridor," Mr. Dong said.
