National Assembly Delegate Duong Van Phuoc (from the National Assembly Delegation of Quang Nam Province) proposed investing in the National Highway 14D section from Ben Giang to the Lao border and the National Highway 1A section through Quang Nam because the road is narrow, degraded, and prone to accidents.
Responding to this issue, the Ministry of Transport said that according to the approved road network planning for the 2021 - 2030 period, with a vision to 2050, National Highway 14D is 75 km long, level III - IV scale, 2 - 4 lanes.
According to the report of the Vietnam Road Administration, from July 2023 to July 2024, the volume of heavy trucks transporting goods from Laos to Vietnam through the Nam Giang international border gate increased (about 75 trips/day and night to 320 trips/day and night), so the road has been damaged and degraded, regular maintenance and periodic repairs to ensure traffic safety on National Highway 14D are difficult, exceeding the prescribed maintenance budget limit. Therefore, early investment in renovating and upgrading National Highway 14D is necessary.
Given the above situation, to ensure traffic safety, the Prime Minister has agreed in principle to assign the Ministry of Transport and the People's Committee of Quang Nam province to study and invest in a road connecting Nam Giang border gate to Quang Nam seaport.
Based on the report of the People's Committee of Quang Nam province and the Ministry of Transport, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha assigned the Ministry of Transport to develop a plan to upgrade and renovate National Highway 14D and coordinate with the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ministry of Finance, and the People's Committee of Quang Nam province to identify and balance capital sources to implement the Project according to regulations.
The Ministry of Transport has assigned the Thang Long Project Management Board to prepare a Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) report on the project to upgrade and renovate National Highway 14D, Quang Nam province (the Project) to report to the competent authority for investment in the Project in the medium-term public investment plan for the period 2026 - 2030.
The Ministry of Transport also issued Document No. 13033/BGTVT-KHDT dated November 29, 2024 requesting the Government Office to report to the Prime Minister: Assign the People's Committee of Quang Nam province to preside over the project implementation, the Ministry of Transport will closely coordinate during the implementation process.
Consider and arrange capital for the Project from the general reserve fund of the medium-term public investment plan for the period 2021 - 2025 or increased revenue in 2024, as a basis for construction implementation in 2025, striving to complete the Project in 2026.
Regarding investment in expanding National Highway 1 through Quang Nam province: According to the approved road network planning for the period 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2050, National Highway 1 from Hanoi to Can Tho meets grade III standards, with 4 lanes.
Since 2015, the Ministry of Transport has invested in and completed the operation of National Highway 1 from Thanh Hoa to Can Tho, 1,475 km long with a scale of 4 lanes, of which the section through Quang Nam province is 85 km long (Km942 - Km1027) with 56km invested with a scale of 4 lanes for motor vehicles, 2 mixed lanes (roadbed width 20.5m, road surface width 19.5m) and 29km with a scale of 4 lanes for motor vehicles (roadbed width 17.5m, road surface width 16.5m).
To ensure traffic safety and compliance with the approved planning, the Ministry of Transport has assigned the Vietnam Road Administration to study and establish an investment project to expand National Highway 1, Duy Xuyen - Phu Ninh section, Quang Nam province, for investment in the medium-term public investment plan for the period 2021 - 2025. At the same time, consider the investment plan to expand the 29km long sections of the National Highway 1 expansion project, section Km947 - Km987, under the form of a BOT contract.
However, the investment in expanding 29km of National Highway 1 expansion project, section Km947 - Km987, under the BOT contract form does not ensure financial feasibility.
On the other hand, due to resource difficulties, the Ministry of Transport has not been able to allocate capital to invest in expanding National Highway 1, Duy Xuyen - Phu Ninh section, Quang Nam province in the medium-term public investment plan for the period 2021 - 2025.
The Ministry of Transport noted the delegates' recommendations. To ensure safety during operation, the Ministry of Transport assigned the Vietnam Road Administration to coordinate with localities to conduct specific surveys to find solutions to enhance safety for people and vehicles participating in traffic on the route. In the process of developing the public investment plan for the period 2026 - 2030, the Ministry of Transport will consider reporting to the competent authority to invest in expanding National Highway 1, Duy Xuyen - Phu Ninh section, Quang Nam province.
